Emiliano Bellini
Silver-lean screen-printing can reduce silver use in TOPCon solar cells by 40%
Researchers from the University of New South Wales have teamed with international colleagues to develop a metallisation technique for TOPCon solar cells that can reportedly reduce silver usage in the devices’ rear side by 85%.
Longi launches residential HJT back-contact solar module with 25% efficiency
Longi has developed the Hi-MO S10, a residential heterojunction (HJT) back-contact solar module with 25% efficiency, combining 27.6%-efficient cells with up to 510 W output and 252.3 W/m² power density.
Canadian Solar’s storage unit launches 5 MWh battery
The battery unit of the Chinese PV manufacturer said its new large-scale battery has a lifecycle of more than 12,000 cycles. The system has a nominal capacity of 5 MWh and a roundtrip efficiency of up to 95%.
Jolywood’s laser-assisted firing process increases TOPCon solar cell efficiency by 0.6%, says UNSW research
New research from the University of New South Wales have found that the Special Injected Metallisation (JSIM) technique developed by Chinese manufacturer Jolywood can considerably increase TOPCon solar cell efficiency. The scientists described precisely how laser-assisted firing enhances cell performance, reportedly filling critical gaps in industrial TOPCon cell optimisation.
Is solar really root cause of Spain’s massive power outage?
Some media outlets have speculated that Spain’s April 28 blackout may have been caused by a disconnected solar plant, but DNV grid analyst Andrea Mansoldo tells pv magazine that it was likely due to a combination of grid weakness and low-frequency oscillations.
Top-cell transparency remains critical challenge for tandem solar cells
New research has shown how improving top-cell transparency and performance remains key to the commercialization of tandem perovskite-silicon solar cells, as well as for all other types of tandem devices. The analysis demonstrated, in particular, that the top cell must achieve higher single-cell efficiency to compensate for reduced transparency.
EVA-induced degradation has significant impact on power losses in TOPCon solar modules
New research from UNSW shows EVA-encapsulated TOPCon solar modules under damp-heat testing can suffer significant power losses and fill factor drops. The study describes metallisation degradation mechanisms driven by EVA-generated contaminants and demonstrates the effectiveness of metallisation adjustments in reducing EVA-induced degradation rates
Longi achieves 34.85% efficiency for two-terminal tandem perovskite solar cell
The result was confirmed by the United States Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
Fronius launches hybrid inverters for residential, commercial applications
The Austrian manufacturer said its new hybrid inverters can increase the usable output of the PV system to up to 150%. They are available in six version with rated AC power ranging from 15 kW to 33.3 kW.
Global solar module shipments hit 703 GW in 2024
The new edition of the International Technology Roadmap for Photovoltaic, published this week, reports that average PV module prices last year dropped by 33% compared to the end of 2023.
