One year after announcing an efficiency record, Empa scientists have achieved a new mark of 22.2% for flexible CIGS solar cell on polymer film. Solar cells of this type are especially suited for applications on buildings, vehicles, satellites, airships, and mobile devices. Empa researchers have – once again – improved the efficiency of CIGS flexible Read more about Flexible solar cells with record efficiency of 22.2%[…]
The Commission together with industrial actors, research institutes, associations and other relevant parties launched the European Solar PV Industry Alliance. The alliance will help mitigating supply risk by securing diversification of supplies through more diverse imports and scaled up solar PV manufacturing of innovative and sustainable solar PVs in the EU. In a joint statement, the Read more about European Solar PV Industry Alliance[…]
Solar cells manufactured from materials known as “perovskites” are catching up with the efficiency of traditional silicon-based solar cells. At the same time, they have advantages of low cost and short energy payback time. However, such solar cells have problems with stability – something that researchers at Linköping University, together with international collaborators, have now Read more about New possibilities to develop efficient and stable solar cells[…]
An electronic mismatch in the pairs of materials used to make organic solar cells can enhance cell operation, KAUST researchers have shown. The surprise finding — made following a comprehensive reanalysis of state-of-the-art organic solar materials — should enable researchers to predict new organic formulations with strong solar cell performance. The light-capturing layer of organic Read more about A new measuring for best performing organic solar cells[…]
The Commission signed grant agreements of €1.1 billion with seven large-scale projects via the EU Innovation Fund, funded by revenues from the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS). These projects aim to reduce emissions by over 76 Mt of CO2eq during the first ten years of operation. The seven projects are deploying innovative low-carbon technologies at Read more about Over €1 billion for the EU climate transition[…]
Scientists using satellite technologies have discovered for the first time that large scale solar parks have a cooling effect on the land surrounding them. As more countries pledge to achieve net zero carbon emissions there will be a greater reliance on renewable energy sources, such as wind turbines and solar energy. However, there is very Read more about Satellites show us how solar parks can affect our climate[…]
A group of scientists at Empa has pushed the efficiency of flexible solar cells to a new limit. Independent measurements revealed an efficiency of 21.4 percent when these types of solar cells convert light into electricity. For comparison: the best efficiency of a non-flexible solar cell made of crystalline silicon is reported at 26.7 percent. Read more about Efficiency of flexible solar cells to a new limit[…]
Researchers at Tufts University School of Engineering have created light-activated composite devices able to execute precise, visible movements and form complex three-dimensional shapes without the need for wires or other actuating materials or energy sources. The design combines programmable photonic crystals with an elastomeric composite that can be engineered at the macro and nano scale Read more about Nanotechnology paves way for intelligent solar cells[…]
North Carolina State University-led researchers have developed an analytical measurement “framework” which could allow organic solar cell researchers and manufacturers to determine which materials will produce the most stable solar cells prior to manufacture. Organic solar cells have increased in efficiency over the past decades, but researchers and manufacturers still struggle with determining which material Read more about Efficient solar cells under analysis prediction[…]
With the recent development of foldable mobile phone screens, research on foldable electronics has never been so intensive. One particularly useful application of the foldable technology is in solar panels. Current solar cells are restricted to rigid, flat panels, which are difficult to store in large numbers and integrate into everyday appliances, including phones, windows, Read more about Novel breakthrough in solar harvesting technology[…]
A new method for constructing special solar cells could significantly increase their efficiency. Not only are the cells made up of thin layers, they also consist of specifically arranged nanoblocks. This has been shown in a new study by an international research team led by the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU), which was published in Read more about New nanocomposite material to increase solar cell efficiency[…]
In a new study, researchers from Texas A&M University and industry have designed a smart technology that can help utility companies better serve communities affected by blackouts. The researchers said their single device works by improving energy delivery between home solar-power systems and the electrical grid. “Our innovation lets solar energy consumers be less dependent Read more about A new smart technology that can help utility companies better serve communities[…]