Researchers at GIST have developed a perovskite mini-module with 22.56% efficiency by improving the SnO2 electron transport layer with PEI, reducing defects and electron loss. The module retained 94% of its performance after 500 hours, showing potential for scalable, stable perovskite solar cells and modules. The team focused on engineering the interface of the electron transport layer to address non-uniformity issues and improve efficiency and stability. By incorporating PEI into the SnO2 layer, they were able to reduce electron loss, improve electrical environment at the interface, and facilitate smooth electron transport, leading to high-quality perovskite films suitable for mass production.
Author: Pv Magazine
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Solar generates record 13% of EU electricity in 2025
Solar and wind energy in the EU have seen significant growth, surpassing coal and hydro in the energy mix and generating more energy than fossil fuels for the first time in history. With solar generation increasing by over 20% in 2025 and wind and solar together supplying a record 30% of EU power, renewable sources now account for 47.7% of the total energy mix. To further advance climate solutions, experts recommend removing barriers to battery deployment, collaborating on permitting for cross-border power lines, supporting investment in heat pumps and electric technologies, introducing policy for electrifying transport, heating, and industry, and banning Russian gas and LNG imports by 2027.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/01/23/solar-generates-record-13-of-eu-electricity-in-2025/
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‘Agrivoltaics is not just a land-sharing concept, but a systems-level solution to some of the world’s most pressing challenges’
Researchers have conducted a multidimensional study on agrivoltaics, finding that it could add over 1,800 million tonnes to global crop yields annually and generate over $1 trillion in added global agricultural income. The study looked at the impact of agrivoltaics on sustainability, soil-crop productivity, socioeconomic resilience, solar power generation, spatial efficiency, and species. Agrivoltaics was seen as a systems-level solution to food insecurity, climate stress, land-use conflicts, and economic vulnerability. The study found that agrivoltaics could potentially increase global crop production by 1.8 billion tonnes annually, providing enough calories to feed over 2.1 billion people per year. This innovative approach combines solar energy production with agricultural practices, offering potential solutions for sustainable land use and renewable energy generation, highlighting the importance of exploring new methods like agrivoltaics to address climate change challenges and promote environmental sustainability.
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Chinese scientists build 31.13%-efficient perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell via 2D seeding agent
Researchers in China have developed a novel 2D seeding agent, CsPb2Br5, to regulate crystallization in wide-bandgap perovskite films, achieving an efficiency of 31.13% in perovskite-silicon tandem devices. This seeding agent addresses issues of uncontrollable crystallization and phase separation, promoting top-down vertical crystal growth to enhance charge transport and suppress phase separation. The optimized wide-bandgap perovskite also shows high power conversion efficiency and stability compared to control devices, with potential for use in large area devices. Co-corresponding author Wei Huang emphasized the focus on optimizing long-term stability for future applications.
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Smart Commercial to roll out prefab vertical rooftop PV system
Smart Commercial Energy and Over Easy Solar have collaborated to introduce a new prefabricated vertical rooftop solar system in the Australian market. The system features pre-assembled and pre-racked bifacial panels that can be easily installed on buildings where traditional rooftop solar is not feasible. The lightweight design and simple installation process make it suitable for commercial buildings with load-bearing limits or design constraints. Over Easy, a company founded in 2021, has installed over 1.3 MW of its VPUs in about 40 buildings across 13 countries, collecting crucial data on performance, installation efficiency, structural impact, and long-term suitability under Australian conditions. This innovative system can complement existing rooftop solar systems by shifting generation towards the morning and afternoon, improving overall system economics, and with Australia's high solar energy density, it is a relevant market for this technology in addressing climate change.
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Sodium-ion batteries gain momentum: Unigrid launches commercial deliveries as Altris, Draslovka forge Europe’s first supply chain
Unigrid, the first company outside of China to export sodium-ion batteries at scale, has launched commercial deliveries with a cost-efficient manufacturing model that enables rapid scaling without the need for building its own factory. With a tenfold expansion of global manufacturing capacity, Unigrid aims to reach 1 GWh in 2026, relying on Asian production facilities due to underutilization of local factories.
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SoftBank pilots solar-wind-powered AI-controlled base station
SoftBank Group is piloting AI-controlled cellular base stations powered by solar panels and a 3 kW wind turbine in Ichihara City, Chiba Prefecture. The system reduces energy use while maintaining service quality by storing excess power in batteries and switching to the grid when needed. AI manages the station's "sleep" mode to lower power consumption during low communication traffic, making it suitable for deployment in remote areas. The compact design and AI analysis allow for a broader selection of cells without compromising communication quality. SoftBank plans to expand testing of the wind- and solar-powered base stations in the future.
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Researchers achieve record perovskite solar module stability under light, heat, and UV stress
An international research team has developed a groundbreaking compound for perovskite solar cells, utilizing a new two-dimensional perovskite interlayer through co-crystal engineering. This technology has shown over 95% efficiency retention after 5,000 hours of exposure to light, heat, and UV stress, with improved stability due to the use of neutral triazine-based molecules. The industry-compatible co-crystal engineering method can be easily integrated into existing manufacturing workflows, addressing a major barrier to commercialization. The research, led by a team from Iritaly Trading Company and EPFL, has been detailed in a publication in Nature Energy, showcasing the potential for industrial adoption and scale-up of this innovative approach.
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GES rolls out manganese-hydrogen battery with significant cost edge over lithium-ion
Italian company Green Energy Storage (GES) has developed a manganese-hydrogen flow battery for long-duration energy storage, targeting industrial-scale applications and large renewable energy plants. The battery boasts an efficiency exceeding 75%, a service life of over 10,000 cycles, and a low levelized cost of storage (LCOS). The cost is competitive at €0.02 per kWh per cycle compared to lithium batteries. The battery is expected to be commercially available in 2027 and is based on a flow architecture that decouples energy and power for independent sizing. Manganese was chosen for its abundance, established production chain, cost-effectiveness, and low environmental impact.
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Chinese scientists push selenium solar cells beyond 10% efficiency
Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have achieved a world record for selenium solar cells, reaching 10.3% efficiency, surpassing the 10% threshold for the first time. This milestone was made possible through optimized charge-selective contacts, light-driven crystallization, and post-deposition annealing, resulting in stable devices with a 1.03 V open-circuit voltage. The breakthrough in selenium solar cells, known for their wider bandgap and high efficiency potential, demonstrates the success of careful optimization and strategic combinations by the research team. The device also exhibited minimal efficiency loss after 1,000 hours of testing, highlighting its promising future in the development of efficient solar energy solutions.