Author: solarenergy
Record efficiency achieved with perovskite and organic tandem solar cells Researchers from the University of Potsdam have unveiled a tandem solar cell that combines perovskite and organic materials, setting a new efficiency benchmark of 25.7%. This advancement uses low-temperature processing methods to reduce the carbon footprint while maximizing energy absorption across the entire solar spectrum. The new solar cell uses two materials that absorb different parts of sunlight: perovskites capture blue and green wavelengths, while a new organic layer focuses on red and infrared wavelengths. These tandem designs optimize the use of sunlight for higher efficiency compared to traditional technologies…
ConnectDER has secured $35 million in Series D funding to support its meter socket adapter (MSA) business, which integrates solar, storage, EV charging and more while avoiding major electrical panel upgrades. December 4, 2024 Ryan Kennedy By pv magazine USA ConnectDER, a provider of home energy technology, announced it has secured $35 million in Series D funding to scale its meter connection adapter business. ConnectDER’s product, a meter socket adapter (MSA) called IslandDER, is designed to cost-effectively connect home energy devices, such as solar, battery storage, EV chargers and other distributed energy sources, to the electric grid. Many homes in…
By pv magazine USA The U.S. energy grid is under unprecedented pressure, driven by rising demand from artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled data centers and the rapid adoption of electrification and electric vehicles (EVs). As these two sectors expand, their combined energy demands are driving the country’s energy consumption to new highs, forcing the electric grid to adapt to support modern technological and environmental ambitions. The rapid advancement of AI-powered data centers alone is expected to be responsible for this 8% of total US energy consumption by 2030, up from 3% in 2022, while the energy consumption of the EV infrastructure is…
The 1.5 MW installation is part of the cheese maker’s efforts to reduce emissions. Image: Conrad Energie. Conrad Energy has started construction on a 1.5 MW on-site solar project for Belton Farm. In collaboration with building technology specialist Ivegate, the independent energy producer (IPP) has officially taken the first step in the field of ground-mounted solar PV installation. Once work is completed on site, Conrad Energy says the installation will reduce Belton Farm’s Co2 emissions by up to 350 tonnes next year. Belton Farm is a cheese maker that has been producing cheese at its site in Whitchurch, Shropshire since…
An international research team has manufactured a perovskite solar cell using sulfur-based additives to improve its resistance to moisture. The device not only achieved high efficiency levels, but was also able to maintain approximately 96% of its efficiency after 1000 hours. December 3, 2024 Emiliano Bellini One of the key challenges for the scientific community and the PV industry to commercially produce perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is the need to improve moisture stability. Protecting the perovskite layer from moisture is essential to prevent excess water from forming on the layer itself, as this can damage the crystallinity of the cell…
PowerChina has signed a contract with Manila Electric for the 1.05 GW Terra solar project in the Philippines, as part of the 2.45 GW Terra Project, which also includes 3.3 GWh of energy storage. December 3, 2024 Vincent Shaw Power Construction Corp. from China (PowerChina) has signed an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract with Manila Electric Co. for the 1.05 GW Terra solar project in the Philippines. The plans are part of the 2.45 GW Terra Project, which includes 3.3 GWh of energy storage. Micro quantity has shipped its self-developed 50 MW perovskite-α modules to China Huaneng for a…
The pv magazine Awards 2024 The winners have been announced, celebrating success in a record year for solar and storage. This year’s awards program was more competitive than ever, attracting 308 entries from 36 countries. A total of eight pv magazine Award winners were chosen, following a process in which twenty independent jury members from around the world gave their assessment of the solutions on display. New standards for module efficiency, massive battery growth and innovation across the supply chain were all evident from this year’s entries. The investments in capacity, quality and R&D were clearly visible, but what was…
Like the the world’s largest resource of renewable energy, hydropower plays an important role in stabilizing the electricity grid. While solar power relies on the sun to shine and wind turbines need the wind to blow, hydropower turbines can (usually) be turned on or off at will. Hydropower is widely used for the storage of electrical energy, so-called pumped storage, which means that it can compensate for the fluctuations of wind and solar energy in the electricity grid. Its value in the race to a climate-neutral economy is proven, but aging infrastructures, unpredictable weather patterns and ever-changing regulatory requirements are…
New research from China shows that regions with dense PV installations, such as Southern China, Central and Northern Europe, Central and Eastern America and Japan, are most exposed to weather-related events with extremely low production. The researchers proposed a mitigation strategy to reduce the impact of these events on PV energy generation. December 3, 2024 Emiliano Bellini A group of researchers in China have examined the impact of weather-related Extremely Low Production (ELP) events on the global fleet of PV systems in different regions and concluded that more investments may be needed to improve the effectiveness of the systems to…
BMW Group says it will switch its Regensburg plant’s logistics to hydrogen by 2026, replacing electric vehicles with hydrogen-powered forklifts and route trains, while Exolum has launched a new business line to offer integrated logistics solutions in the entire hydrogen value chain December 3, 2024 Sergio Matalucci BMW Group said it plans to switch production logistics at its plant in Regensburg, Germany, to hydrogen by 2026. The transition will help diversify the factory’s energy mix and optimize logistics processes. “From 2026hydrogen-powered route trains and forklift trucks will do that be deployed for all transport and logistics tasks,” said the German…