Section
Technology
Cell and module efficiency, perovskites, inverters, materials, pilot lines and factory processes. Coverage concentrates on how equipment is made and how it performs outside the lab.
Synergistic Additives Enable Efficient Slot-Die-Coated Perovskite Solar
Researchers at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics developed a synergistic additive strategy to enable large-area slot-die coating of methylammonium-free perovskite films. This advance addresses crystallization barriers, providing a viable chemical pathway for scalable industrial manufacturing of high-performance perovskite solar cells.
Scientists figured out how to use a cheap everyday camera to measure how well solar panels work
Researchers from the University of Stuttgart and Solarzentrum Stuttgart demonstrated that a $450 consumer camera can measure solar cell performance using a custom calibration model. This development lowers the cost barrier for detailed quality control, enabling more frequent and accessible diagnostics for solar panel manufacturers and quality assurance teams.
Brazil: Grupo Moura to invest 200 million reais in battery plant in Pernambuco
Grupo Moura is investing 200 million reais to expand its BESS manufacturing capacity in Pernambuco to over 8 GWh annually. This expansion aligns with Brazil's upcoming storage auctions and aims to increase local content in the energy storage supply chain.
China: Tongwei Unveils TOPCon Solar Cell with 26.03% Efficiency and High Sheet Resistance
Tongwei researchers developed a TOPCon solar cell with a 1,600 Ω/sq sheet resistance emitter, achieving a record 26.03% efficiency. This breakthrough in surface passivation and recombination reduction offers a clear pathway for manufacturers to refine doping profiles and enhance commercial cell performance.
Morocco's Solar Potential Could Yield 12.28 Million Tons of Green
A new geospatial analysis estimates Morocco could produce 12.28 million metric tons of green hydrogen annually using concentrated solar power. This study provides a detailed roadmap for siting renewable energy infrastructure to align with national decarbonization targets.
A 2.2-inch lab ice ball hits solar panel glass at 76 mph, and the first crack appears 126 millionths of a second later
Researchers used 300,000 fps imaging to measure a 126-microsecond delay in glass fracture during hail impact tests on thin-film modules. This data helps engineers understand dynamic failure mechanisms that static strength metrics cannot predict for module durability.
Poland: Massive lawsuit over nearly 2.5 million PV panels: Are the modules underperforming?
Swift Current Energy has filed a lawsuit against First Solar alleging that over 2.4 million modules are degrading at rates exceeding warranty specifications. This dispute highlights the critical financial and legal risks associated with module performance degradation in large-scale utility solar projects.
These Solar Panels Stay Cool in Hot Climates
Researchers in Iraq have developed a water-saturated pad and spraying system that boosts solar panel efficiency by 20 percent in extreme heat. This innovation is critical for maintaining performance in regions where high temperatures cause significant thermal losses to photovoltaic output.
Iraq: Will Baghdad’s Solar Panel Cooling Hack Make PV More Efficient
Researchers at Middle Technical University in Iraq have developed an evaporative cooling system that improves solar panel electrical efficiency by approximately 20 percent in extreme heat. This innovation is significant for solar professionals because it addresses the critical issue of thermal derating in high-temperature regions, potentially enhancing the performance and economic viability of PV installations in hot climates.
Lyrebird-inspired AI controller slashes solar inverter distortion to 0.29%
Researchers published a study in Discover Energy detailing a hybrid control strategy that reduces inverter total harmonic distortion from 8.59% to 0.29%. This advancement is significant for solar professionals as it demonstrates a method to improve power quality and grid compatibility in standalone photovoltaic systems.
Deep Learning Models Reveal Accuracy Tradeoffs in Arid Solar Grid
Researchers in Oman evaluated deep learning models for solar forecasting, finding that Temporal Fusion Transformers outperform LSTM networks in cross-location accuracy. This study provides critical benchmarks for grid operators to improve long-term capacity planning in arid regions.
Solar perovskite finds a way to overcome one of its major commercial hurdles: light-induced degradation
Researchers from PolyU and Zhejiang University identified a mechanism for light-induced degradation in perovskite solar cells and developed a treatment to repair inter-crystal defects. This advance is significant for solar professionals as it addresses a major obstacle to the large-scale commercialization of this high-efficiency photovoltaic technology.
Solar glass survives ~20J hail impacts, but modules crack at lower energy when ice hits near the edge
Sandia National Laboratories research demonstrates that solar module glass withstands impacts up to 20 joules, but modules crack at lower energies when ice strikes near the edge. This finding is critical for engineers and installers to understand the specific mechanical vulnerabilities of large-format modules under severe weather conditions.
China wafer prices steady on firm polysilicon amid weak fundamentals
Wafer prices in China remained stable in early November, supported by firm polysilicon costs and improving supply-demand dynamics in the cell segment. This stability is significant for professionals because it highlights how upstream cost pressures and inventory levels continue to influence midstream pricing despite reduced operating rates.
Trap Recombination Affects Organic and Perovskite Solar Cells in Opposite Ways
A new modeling study in Applied Physics B reveals that Shockley-Read-Hall recombination impacts organic and perovskite solar cells in opposite ways, eroding short-circuit current in the former and open-circuit voltage in the latter. This distinction is critical for researchers optimizing device architectures and trap passivation strategies to maximize efficiency in next-generation photovoltaic technologies.
Kevlar textile stores solar energy and powers motion sensing in one fabric
Researchers developed a Kevlar textile that integrates molecular solar thermal storage and a triboelectric nanogenerator for self-powered motion sensing. This demonstrates a new approach to wearable energy harvesting that could influence future smart textile and building-integrated photovoltaic applications.
Study Finds 0.5-Meter Row Spacing Improves Cooling in Floating Solar Farms
A computational fluid dynamics study on a floating solar project in Italy identified a 0.5-meter row spacing as the most effective configuration for reducing panel operating temperatures. This research highlights the critical role of airflow management in floating photovoltaic design, challenging the assumption that proximity to water alone ensures optimal cooling for system efficiency.
The Solar Panel Recycling Dilemma: How to Sacrifice Value for Environmental Protection (Report)
Researchers evaluated the environmental and economic performance of three recycling strategies for frameless, double-glass solar panels encapsulated with flexible polyolefin. This analysis is critical for professionals as it highlights the trade-offs between material recovery value and environmental impact in next-generation panel designs.
Lithium-Ion Batteries and Capacitors Converge as Electrode and Electrolyte
A new review in Discover Electrochemistry maps how electrode and electrolyte advances are converging lithium-ion batteries and capacitors into complementary storage solutions. This matters to solar and energy-storage professionals because it clarifies which chemistry suits grid storage versus fast-cycling applications, guiding safer and more sustainable system design.
30 Seconds of Charging for 10,000 Cycles: Sodium-Ion Battery Finally Finds Its Armor
Researchers from Fudan University and Shanghai Electric Group published a study in the Journal of the American Chemical Society detailing a new anode architecture for sodium-ion batteries. This development is significant for energy storage professionals as it addresses the structural degradation and low conductivity issues that have historically limited the cycle life and fast-charging capability of sodium-ion technology.
South Korea: L&F Secures 250,000-Ton LFP Order, Plans to Expand 2028 Production Capacity by 120,000 Tons
L&F has secured a 250,000-ton order for LFP cathode materials and plans to expand its production capacity to 120,000 tons by 2028. This expansion is significant for energy storage professionals as it addresses the growing demand for non-China supply in the North American ESS market.
IoT rig tracks perovskite solar windows through a real winter
A field study in Peshawar tracked two semi-transparent perovskite window modules through a full winter using low-cost IoT logging. This provides real-world seasonal degradation data for BIPV that laboratory simulators cannot replicate.
India’s solar module manufacturing capacity could reach 3.48 TW by 2047
ISMA projects India's solar module capacity to reach 3.48 TW by 2047, requiring $89 billion in investment. This roadmap highlights the shift toward full domestic value chain integration for energy professionals.
Nickel powder optimization cuts TOPCon solar cell metallization costs by 6.8% without compromising efficiency
UNSW researchers demonstrated a 6.8% reduction in rear-finger raw-metal costs for TOPCon cells by optimizing nickel powder characteristics for partial silver replacement. This work highlights how specific powder properties influence electrical performance and printability, offering a pathway to lower metallization expe