Berkeley Lab scientists discover coating to capture near-infrared light
A team of researchers the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has discovered a method of coating particles with organic dye, which can capture near infrared light, a breakthrough which could greatly boost solar cell efficiency by capturing a larger section of the light spectrum.
Trackers dominate U.S. utility-scale solar (w/charts)
Among the many findings in a recent report by Lawrence Berkeley National Labs is that 79% of new U.S. utility-scale solar capacity in 2016 involved tracking systems.
Wind and solar outstrip state renewable energy mandates (w/ charts)
A new report by Berkeley Lab also finds that solar is increasingly being used to meet state-level renewable energy requirements, while overall deployment of renewables is increasingly driven by other factors.
How much will community solar compete with residential in the United States?
Community Solar is coming at a time of PV, especially residential, market uncertainty. So far the United States is a big enough sandbox for both markets to play in.
Study: Why do people pay vastly varied prices for the same solar? (Read the full report here)
A new Berkeley Lab study, Sources of Price Dispersion in U.S. Residential Solar Installations, looks closely at why consumers often pay vastly different prices for essentially the same solar installations.
Berkeley Lab finds negligible potential rate impacts from distributed solar
The latest report from the respected national lab finds that even if – big if – behind-the-meter solar is raising the rates of other utility customers, the impacts are tiny, especially compared to other activities.
Berkley Labs will lead DOE effort to find breakthrough materials for solar panels
Under the direction of Anubhav Jain of Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, five DOE labs will work to accelerate the development and development of innovative materials for PV modules.
NREL takes lead on $30m consortium to improve PV technology performance
The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory will lead a consortium comprising Sandia National Laboratories and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory on the development of new solar module materials.
New faces and familiar faces: the pv magazine USA weekly digest
This week saw three new high-profile executive appointments, Berkeley Lab’s annual report showing ongoing solar cost collapses, progress on Tesla’s acquisition of SolarCity, and more.
Berkeley Lab: Solar contract prices fell below $50/MWh in 2015 (with charts)
The national lab’s latest report finds ongoing declines in PV system prices, with residential system prices falling to $4 per watt in 2015.
