Remember Carbon Nanotubes? They’re Back, & They’re Sucking Moisture
The energy-water nexus could take an interesting turn if a new hydrogel doped with carbon nanotubes jumpstarts a solar cell efficiency revolution.
Solar Cell Efficiency
US Scientists Create New Solar Cell That Blows Past Theoretical Limit, But Why?
A new record-setting solar cell isn’t just another pretty PV face — it could open up new opportunities for concentrating solar power, too.
NREL Research Boosts Stability of Perovskites, Helps Silicon Solar Cells
A change in chemical composition enabled scientists to boost the longevity and efficiency of a perovskite solar cell developed at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The new formula enabled the solar cell to resist a stability problem that has so far thwarted the commercialization of perovskites.
Researchers Unlock Secret To Higher Efficiency Solar Cells
Researchers at MIT have create new solar cell technology that could raise efficiency to as much as 35% — far above the theoretical limit for a silicon-based solar cell.
Most Efficient Solar Modules — NREL’s New Chart
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory, which regularly publishes a chart of the world’s most efficient solar cells, has introduced a new chart of record-efficiency solar modules.
Concentrated Photovoltaics Achieve Solar Conversion Efficiency Record Of 41.4%
Researchers in Europe have set a new record for solar conversion efficiency — 41.4% — using new concentrated photovoltaics technology. The research project focused on making the technology production ready.
“Golden Sandwich” Photoelectrode Harvests 85% Of Sunlight
Scientists at the Research Institute for Electronic Science at Hokkaido University have created what they call a “golden sandwich,” a photoelectrode that captures 85% of sunlight and uses it to split water and thus crate hydrogen. Yes, this is experimental stuff, and no, it has not yet reached commercial production. But stop and think for a minute what that could mean to the renewable energy revolution.
Researchers Use Nanotubes To Change Color Of Solar Panels
Researchers in the Netherlands have devised a way to change the color of solar panels so they can by suitable for more applications.
How Efficient Will Solar PV Be In The Future? 10-Year Predictions For The Industry
If you were to walk into a solar store and purchase some of their best-selling PV panels, it is likely that their solar irradiance-to-electricity conversion efficiency would be around 17%. This is the typical efficiency (Fraunhofer ISE Photovoltaics Report, 2017) of the top-selling PV product, a multi-crystalline silicon panel. This means that for a typical panel, 17% of all incident solar energy is converted directly to usable electricity. This is quite impressive for a device that has no moving parts and can generate power at the location where the electricity is required (no transmission losses). It is no wonder that PV is already one of the cheapest power technologies available.
Solar Cell Efficiency Smackdown: Eye of Moth Vs. Petal of Rose
Moth eyes were last year’s big thing in deploying biomimicry to improve solar cell efficiency, and now the El Toro rose has thrown its hat into the ring.
