Author: solarenergy
Scientists from the French research institute CEA-Liten have identified hydrogen migration in doped selective layers as the main driver of UV-induced degradation in silicon heterojunction solar cells. They also found that combined light and thermal light treatments can partially restore performance and improve long-term UV stability. January 22, 2026 Emiliano Bellini Researchers from the department of new energy technologies and nanomaterials (Liten) of the French Alternative Energy and Atomic Energy Commission have investigated UV-induced degradation (UVID) pathways in heterojunction (HJT) solar cells and found that light treatments that combine thermal and light activation gradually restore the selective conductivity of the…
Rising silver prices are pushing PV manufacturers towards copper-based metallization, with DK Electronic Materials targeting large-scale deployment of high copper paste solutions by 2026, while Fraunhofer ISE warns that efficiency compromises remain unacceptable. January 21, 2026 Lior Kahana Silver prices are rising, with $100 per troy ounce within reach, putting heavy pressure on the PV supply chain, where at current levels at least a fifth of module costs go to silver for cell metallization. Highlighting this trend, China-based metallization paste supplier DK Electronic Materials revealed that a gigawatt-scale customer will use its copper-rich paste for commercial production. “We expect 2026…
Scientists at Osaka Metropolitan University have developed a single organic molecule that naturally forms the internal p/n bonds needed to convert sunlight into electricity, offering a potential shortcut to more efficient organic thin-film solar cells. The study shows how careful molecular design and self-assembly can generate stable nanoscale p/n heterojunctions without the need to physically mix separate p-type and n-type materials. Solar cells generate electricity when photons create charge carriers in a semiconductor and an internal electric field at the ap/n junction drives these charges apart. In conventional devices, these bonds form at the interface between individual p-type and n-type…
China-based PV equipment supplier Ideal Energy (Shanghai) Sunflower Semiconductor has completed an AI-enabled pilot line for ultra-thin flexible heterojunction (HJT) solar cells, targeting lightweight energy systems for space and near-space applications. January 21, 2026 Vincent Shaw Ideal Energy (Shanghai) Sunflower Semiconductor has announced the completion of an AI-enabled demonstration line for ultra-thin, flexible HJT solar cells designed for space and near-space applications, taking a step beyond conventional photovoltaic manufacturing to advanced, lightweight energy systems. The company said the pilot line, which was completely designed and integrated in-house, successfully produced the first batch of ultra-thin P-type flexible HJT cells that meet…
Scientists from the University of Seville have developed real-time optimization models that show that electricity storage in Spain may be approaching its economic limit, with a cumulative capacity of more than 32 GWh pushing down prices and undermining project profitability. January 21, 2026 Pilar Sanchez Molina By ESS news Traditionally, storage planning is based on production cost models or capacity expansion models. The former optimize dispatch on a levelized cost basis, while the latter assess investment decisions within a marginal price framework, typically assuming that thermal generation drives market prices. However, both approaches imperfectly capture storage, especially in terms of…
Researchers from KAUST, TU Delft and LMU Munich have improved the performance of monolithic perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells by changing the physical structure at the front of the bottom heterojunction solar cell. January 21, 2026 Valerie Thompson A research team from Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich (LMU Munich) has shown that controlling nanoscale surface roughness at the recombination layer in perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells can improve performance. The researchers noted that the influence of the surface roughness of the nanoscale crystalline silicon (c-Si) bottom cell has received much…
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill signed six executive orders on her first day in office, including two affecting energy costs and energy permits. New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill “In the Navy, I learned that you have to lead, follow, or get out of the way – and I promised the people of New Jersey that from day one I would be on a mission to deliver results. That’s why I’m beginning my term as Governor by taking immediate action to solve some of the most important issues facing New Jerseyans. My first six executive orders include freezing utility rate increases,…
The UK government has published its plans to generate £15 billion in public investment under the Warm Homes Plan.Described by the government as “the next step in addressing the long-term problem of energy affordability for the country”, the financing will support consumers to install domestic clean technology, mainly solar, battery energy storage systems (BESS) and heat pumps. The investment is targeted at low-income households, but the plan will support consumer choice for all households. “The largest public investment in home upgrades in British history” will split funding across five key areas: £5 billion will be used to cover the costs…
India-based energy storage company GoodEnough Energy says it has commissioned a 7 GWh battery energy storage systems (BESS) plant in Noida, with plans to expand capacity to more than 25 GWh over the next three years. January 21, 2026 Uma Gupta By pv magazine India GoodEnough Energy has commissioned a 7 GWh BESS plant in Noida, which the company describes as the largest such plant in India. The factory, established with an investment of over INR 450 crore, is now operational. The company said it plans to expand the facility’s capacity from 7 GWh to more than 25 GWh over…
Octopus Energy and state-owned renewable energy company Masdar have announced a partnership they claim will power “the next generation of data centres” in Britain. The companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week in the UAE last week, which aims to optimize the UK distribution network to “unlock hidden capacity”. Octopus’ technology arm, Kraken, will plan to use its optimization technology to dynamically balance on-site generation, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and grid power to “guarantee” power supply to data centers. The company said it would locate these systems around “areas of available capacity” in the…