An international research team has developed an indium-free perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell using tin oxide films and a low-damage reactive plasma deposition process, resulting in high efficiency and stability. Published in Science, the research showcases the potential for reducing material costs while maintaining strong performance under various conditions. This breakthrough could lead to low-cost, sustainable, and scalable photovoltaic technologies on a terawatt scale, offering promising solutions for addressing climate change.
Author: Pv Magazine
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Where solar meets the soil: The multi-benefit potential of ecovoltaics and agrivoltaics
The energy industry is experiencing a surge in demand from data centers, crypto mining, and electric vehicles, while the federal government continues to prioritize fossil fuels. However, photovoltaic solar technology has become more efficient and cost-effective, offering a promising alternative energy source. Emerging methods like ecovoltaics and agrivoltaics are promoting biodiversity and ecosystem health by using PV solar panels to cultivate native plant growth. Studies have shown that ecovoltaic sites support more biodiversity, attract pollinators, and have positive impacts on soil health compared to traditional solar energy farms. Agrivoltaics, the integration of solar and agricultural production, can benefit habitat biodiversity, support native species, and provide mutual benefits for energy and food production, especially in states with limited land for both renewable energy and agriculture. Countries like Japan have already seen success with agrivoltaics, including projects that integrate livestock grazing under solar panels. Projects like the Cornucopia Hybrid Solar Project in California demonstrate the potential for agrivoltaics to deliver renewable energy, promote agricultural uses, and conserve groundwater while reducing fire risks and the need for vegetation maintenance.
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Pilot tests show vertical PV system with specular reflectors delivers 51% higher yield
Spanish startup FutureVoltaics has launched VectHor, a photovoltaic solution designed to increase irradiance capture and shift solar generation towards periods with higher electricity market value. The largest pilot plant in Lemoiz, Spain, using VectHor technology achieved a 51.4% higher specific yield compared to conventional installations, resulting in a 73.6% higher economic return. FutureVoltaics is collaborating with CABB to commercialize VectHor and plans to implement more installations in the future. The pilot project validates the durability and performance of the VectHor5 platform under challenging environmental conditions, contributing to improvements in installation and maintenance practices. The next iteration of the product will include improved reflector materials to further increase energy production and economic value of electricity generated.
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The Philippines inaugurates first phase of massive solar-storage project
The MTerra Solar project in the Philippines is a large-scale solar-plus-storage facility that will deliver 3.5 GW of solar capacity and 4.5 GWh of energy storage once completed. The first phase has energized 1,373 MW of solar and 825 MW of battery energy storage, fulfilling a 600 MW mid-merit power supply agreement with Meralco. The President of the Philippines emphasized the importance of diversifying energy sources towards renewables to reduce reliance on coal for power generation. This project is a significant step towards boosting the energy sector and increasing the share of renewables in the country's energy mix, showcasing the potential for large-scale renewable energy projects to drive sustainable solutions for climate change.
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Google agrees to purchase 100% of power from largest solar-plus-storage project in U.S.
Google has signed a VPPA for the Steel River Energy Center in Arkansas, the largest solar-plus-storage project in the US, with plans to scale up to 2.5 GW of solar PV and 2.9 GWh of energy storage. The project will help Google offset its grid-based emissions by paying a fixed price for clean energy output. Tech companies are turning to VPPAs to meet decarbonization targets and inject renewable capacity into local systems. The Steel River project is prioritizing domestic manufacturing to secure financing and navigate trade policies.
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Chinese scientists achieve world record efficiency of 28.04% for perovksite-organic tandem solar cell
Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have achieved a world record power conversion efficiency of 28.04% for a tandem solar cell using a wide-bandgap perovskite bottom cell and a narrow-bandgap organic top cell. They utilized a photo-transformable molecule called TDB to improve film uniformity in the perovskite film, leading to enhanced stability and performance. The device demonstrated excellent stability, retaining 90% of its initial efficiency after 625 hours of continuous operation, addressing key challenges associated with morphological instability and performance decay in solar cells. Additionally, the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore has achieved a 26.4% efficiency using a new type of organic absorber in the bottom cell, showing promising advancements in tandem solar cell efficiency.
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Triple-junction all-perovskite solar cell based on graphene oxide bilayer achieves 27.3% efficiency
An international research team has developed a novel triple-junction all-perovskite solar cell technology using a graphene oxide-SAM bilayer contact strategy to enhance performance and stability. By integrating graphene oxide, they improved interfacial passivation and buried interface morphology, leading to an increase in cell efficiency from 23.6% to 25.1%, with further optimization reaching a champion efficiency of 27.3%. This technology has the potential to achieve efficiencies beyond 30% by reducing charge-transport resistance and improving perovskite quality and energy-level alignment, making it a promising solution for higher industrial readiness levels. The study, published in Joule, was conducted by a group of academics from Germany and Switzerland.
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Passive mooring system enables floating PV to track water-level changes
Researchers from Morocco have developed a novel mooring system for floating PV systems that automatically adjusts to water-level changes, reducing platform motion without the need for active control or external energy. The system, based on a counterweight-and-pulley mechanism, showed significant reduction in horizontal displacement and achieved a high tracking efficiency of 75%. This passive mooring system offers a mechanically simple design for stable FPV installations in remote, low-maintenance environments. Future research will focus on scaling up, testing with real hydrodynamic loading, and field pilot deployment after the system's proof of concept was presented in a study published in Scientific Reports.
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‘Australian first’ compressed CO2 battery project takes shape
Victoria's State Electricity Commission (SEC) is partnering with Energy Dome to deploy a 10-hour duration compressed CO2 battery energy storage system near Morwell in the Latrobe Valley, marking Victoria's first long-duration energy storage facility and Australia's first commercial compressed CO2 battery. This technology aims to ensure around-the-clock reliability of supply for renewable energy generation from wind and solar, supporting Victoria's transition to clean energy and helping meet its 2030 clean energy targets. Additionally, stakeholder and community consultation has begun for the new SEC Energy Works energy innovation precinct in the Latrobe Valley, which will focus on developing new energy infrastructure and storage technologies to further support the state's future energy system. Projects at SEC Energy Works will contribute to the government-owned renewable energy company's portfolio, including the Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub and the SEC Renewable Energy Park, emphasizing the importance of energy innovation, early investment, and confidence building for new energy technologies.
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China could produce more batteries than global demand by 2030, says US think tank
A new report from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace projects that China's battery manufacturing capacity could exceed global demand by 2030, with estimates between 5,862 GWh and 6,720 GWh compared to expected global demand of 4,000 GWh to 5,100 GWh. The report highlights China's cost advantage in battery production, with Chinese-made batteries priced lower than locally produced alternatives in Europe. It also identifies LFP batteries as a key vulnerability for Western economies due to most global production capacity being in China. The report recommends selective cooperation between OECD economies and Chinese companies, as well as increased support for sodium-ion manufacturers outside of China to address these challenges.