Sunrise brief: DOE funds heated sand energy storage project pilot
Also on the rise: Developing hydrogen fuel from iron-rich rocks. Off-grid solar bench with wireless charging and Wi-Fi, And more.
Sunrise brief: Solar generated 5.5% of U.S. electricity in 2023, a 17.5% increase
Also on the rise: Grid operators in California and Texas earn “B” grades, others score poorly. Calculating potential impact of EPA’s $7 billion Solar for All program. And more.
MIT research provides roadmap to perovskite passivation
In previous work, research teams developed methods for passivation, but there wasn’t clear understanding of how the process works. The new MIT study provides details on how to passivate the material’s surface so that the perovskite no longer degrades so rapidly or loses efficiency.
Sunrise brief: First Solar could have $5 billion impact on U.S. economy by 2026
Also on the rise: Arizona approves “discriminatory” charge on rooftop solar customers. California needs 10 GW of solar deployment in five years, 57.5 GW by 2045. And more.
Fully printable flexible perovskite solar cell achieves 17.6% efficiency
Developed by scientists in Canada, the 0.049 cm2 solar cell was built in ambient air fabricationand with a reactant known as phenyltrimethylammonium chloride (PTACl). It achieved an open-circuit voltage of 0.95 V, a short-circuit current density of 23 mA cm−2, and a fill factor of 80%.
Sunrise brief: Debunking solar myths–solar is unreliable
Also on the rise: Rooftop solar has technical potential to meet 45% of U.S. electricity demand. Raising consumer confidence critical to energy transition. And more.
U.S. researchers develop perovskite solar mini-module with 19.21% efficiency
The scientists built the panel with perovskite solar cells treated with trifluoromethane sulfonate to combat iodide defects. The mini module reportedly achieved the highest efficiency ever recorded for its size to date, with the result being confirmed by the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
Canadian startup offers 35%-efficient indoor perovskite PV modules
Canada’s Solaires Enterprises says its indoor perovskite modules are suitable for powering a range of electronic devices, such as wireless keyboards, smart door locks, electronic shelf labels, and sensors.
Researchers discover new factor in perovskite solar cell stability
Georgia Tech researchers discovered that isolated water or oxygen exposure does not degrade cells, and it is rather the interplay of the molecules that cause rapid degradation.
Sunrise brief: D.C. area targets 250,000 solar rooftops by 2030
Also on the rise: A western National Parks EV charging network, a residential heat pump turbine, lessons learned from battery energy storage systems, and more.
