Author: solarenergy
From hail storms to flooding, extreme weather events are becoming increasingly common across the globe. Therefore, solar companies must take certain precautions to protect PV equipment and ensure solar panel durability in extreme weather. “We have a choice to build solar systems that can provide reliable electricity even when we have extreme weather damaging the grid,” said Dirk Jordan, senior reliability engineer for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). “Certifications, including education and utilizing the best practices for regional extreme weather, will pay for themselves with cost-saving electricity.” Solar panel durability encompasses weather resistance, mechanical strength, equipment longevity, reliability, resistance…
In light of climate change and rising energy costs, more and more people are turning to renewable energy sources such as solar energy to reduce their carbon footprint and save money on energy bills. For renters, however, the idea of installing solar panels on a property they don’t own can seem daunting or even impossible. But fear not! Integrating solar energy into one rent apartment is indeed feasible and can benefit both tenants and landlords. In this article, we explore some of the key benefits of solar energy and provide some tips on how renters can integrate solar energy solutions…
Quantum material reaches an efficiency of up to 190% in solar cells Researchers at Lehigh University have developed a material that significantly improves the efficiency of solar panels. A prototype incorporating this material as the active layer in a solar cell exhibits an average photovoltaic absorption rate of 80%, a high rate of photoexcited carrier generation, and an external quantum efficiency (EQE) that can reach 190%. This figure exceeds the theoretical Shockley-Queisser efficiency limit for silicon-based materials, advancing the field of quantum materials for solar photovoltaics. This work represents a major advance in sustainable energy solutions, said Chinedu Ekuma, professor…
New organic tandem solar cell with four terminals achieves an energy conversion efficiency of 16.94% ICFO researchers have fabricated a new four-terminal organic solar cell with a tandem configuration with an energy conversion efficiency (PCE) of 16.94%. The new device consists of a highly transparent front cell containing a transparent ultra-thin silver (Ag) electrode of only 7 nm, which ensures efficient operation. Organic dual-terminal solar cells (OSCs) represent one of the most promising approaches to address the transmission and thermalization losses in single-junction solar cells. These organic solar cells consist of front and rear subcells with varying band gaps, allowing…
The Midcontinent Independent System Operator operates a high-voltage electricity network that extends from Manitoba to Louisiana and serves 45 million users. This massive operation requires maintaining a balance between energy generated and demand in the regions. The traditional dependence on coal and natural gas power stations is changing. For example, wind farms in Iowa now generate more than 64% of the state’s electricity, and recent initiatives such as the Alliant Energy Solar Farm at Iowa State University represent the shift toward renewable energy sources. However, these sources introduce variability and uncertainty into grid management. Zhaoyu Wang, associate professor of electrical…
Silfab Solar has signed an agreement with SolarCycle to purchase ultra-low carbon household glass for its US-made solar panels. Credit: Silfab SolarCycle recently announced plans to build a first-of-its-kind factory in Georgia to make new solar glass using recycled materials from old solar panels. SolarCycle’s planned glass factory is about 300 miles from Silfab Solar’s newest factory in South Carolina, which will soon add 1 GW of U.S. cell production and another 1.3 GW of module production. “SolarCycle is an ideal partner because of its proven success and innovative processes that have already made Silfab a more sustainable company. The…
a new report has found that emissions from domestically produced steel frames for solar modules are 90.4% lower than those from current aluminum frames manufactured in China. The independent report of Limitless impact research and analysis was commissioned by Steel Frame Startup Origami solar energy. The data aligns Origami Solar’s steel module frames with the mission Ultra-Low Carbon Solar Alliance and the Global Electronics Council’s EPEAT Ultra-Low Carbon Solar Criteria to ensure a key part of the PV supply chain is low-carbon and accelerate embodied carbon reductions across the solar industry supply chain. This also provides a clear, data-driven alternative…
Summit Ridge Energy (SRE), an Arlington, Virginia-based commercial solar contractor, will soon complete construction of a 17 MW community solar portfolio of seven projects – or so it is believed by interconnection standards – built on four different rooftops in Maryland. The 4.8 MW solar project built in the LBA Logistics building on Quad Avenue. Summit Ridge Energy All four locations are commercial buildings owned by industrial real estate operator LBA Logistics. Work with Black Bear energyan agency that represents institutional real estate owners looking to build renewable energy on-site, LBA started the process of adding solar PV to its…
Thornova Solar is launching a new TOPCon module series exclusively for utility-scale projects. Based on the larger G12 silicon wafers, the TS-BGT66 and TS-BWT66 modules offer output power ranging from 695 to 720 W, with conversion efficiencies of 22.4% to 23.2%. Thornova offers a 15-year product warranty and a 30-year performance warranty on modules sourced from its manufacturing facility in Vietnam. Thornova G12 Series 720-W modules leverage the key advantages of Thornova TOPCon modules in higher efficiency, output power and reliability. N-type solar cells, devoid of boron-oxygen pairs, virtually eliminate light-induced degradation (LID) compared to PERC solar cells, resulting in…
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $22 million to improve the planning, siting and permitting processes for large-scale renewable energy facilities. Six state-based projects will receive $10 million through the program Renewable energy location through the Technical Engagement and Planning (R-STEP) program to develop and expand statewide initiatives that provide expertise, training, and technical resources to local governments and communities in planning and evaluating large-scale renewable energy and energy storage projects. DOE also announced its intention to open a second round of the program with up to $12 million in Inflation Reduction Act funding. “Solar and wind energy…