Research & Development
Australia is home to some of the world’s leading solar research institutions, including UNSW and ANU, which have pioneered advances in PV efficiency and sustainable energy systems. This category reports on cutting-edge R&D in solar cell technology, materials science, energy storage, hydrogen production, and system integration. It also covers government and industry-funded innovation programs, pilot projects, and university spin-offs. As Australia works toward a decarbonised future, research and innovation remain critical to overcoming technical, environmental, and economic challenges in solar deployment at scale.
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Latest News
AVL teams with US company to test Australian vanadium for heavy-duty batteries
Australian Vanadium Limited has teamed with United States-headquartered battery technology company Tyfast Energy to evaluate Australian vanadium for use in fast-charging lithium-ion batteries targeting mining, trucking, construction and defence applications.
Oct 12, 2026
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Researchers reduce losses in organic solar cells by restricting emission angle
Spanish researchers have developed an optical cavity that reduces Boltzmann losses in organic solar cells by restricting photon emission angles. The approach could help push single-junction solar cell efficiencies beyond the Shockley-Queisser limit.
Mixed self-assembled monolayer enables 18.88% efficiency in 5.2 cm² inverted perovskite solar cell
Researchers in India have developed an inverted perovskite solar cell based on a mixed self-assembled monolayer that improves film quality, charge transport, and device stability. The cell achieved an efficiency of 18.88% on an active area of 5.2 cm², with a relative efficiency loss of only about 7% compared with smaller devices.
Perovskite solar cell based on Prussian blue achieves 26.9% efficiency
Researchers have used Prussian Blue nanoparticles to improve the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells, achieving efficiencies of up to 26.9%. The approach also enabled the fabrication of large-area modules with certified efficiencies of 22.9% and promising results in accelerated ageing and outdoor stability tests.
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All Research & Development news
Bilayer transparent conductive film for electrostatic dust removal achieves 96.36% cleaning rate on PV panels
Chinese researchers have developed a bilayer transparent conductive film for electrostatic dust removal from PV panels. An 80 nm magnesium fluoride coating offered the best balance of optoelectronic and cleaning performance, with dust removal reaching 96.36%.
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Transmission network planning and system resilience team embeds academic
A senior UTS energy academic has entered a six month term with Australia’s largest transmission operator Transgrid, to bring a fresh perspective to power system challenges such as distributed energy resource growth and the emergence of large new loads like data centres.
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Modified consumer camera can measure solar cell open-circuit voltage
German researchers have modified and calibrated a low-cost consumer camera to quantitatively measure electroluminescence from silicon solar cells and modules. The method determines external luminescent quantum efficiency and uses it to derive the corresponding open-circuit voltage
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