Research

A collaborative project focussing on the development of connected and islandable microgrids within the Australian distribution network has been launched in New South Wales.

Western Power has launched Western Australia’s first distributed energy resources text lab at it’s South Metro Depot to trial how rooftop solar, batteries, electric vehicles and smart appliances can connect, communicate and interact.

UNSW researchers investigating the impact of electron irradiation on PERC and TOPCon solar cell performance have identified bulk lifetime degradation as main power loss cause. Their work stresses the need for increasing radiation tolerance in commercial space silicon solar cells.

In a new scientific paper, the Chinese solar manufacturer explained that the 27.81%-efficient hybrid interdigitated back-contact cell it unveiled in April is based on passivated tunneling contacts and dielectric passivation layers, while also incorporating both n-type and p-type contacts.

Engineers in the United States have developed a polymer coating they say could be used to protect PV modules, due to its impermeability to gases. The team has demonstrated that a 60-nanometer-thick film can extend the lifetime of a perovskite crystal by several weeks.

Tests conducted by a research team in outdoor environments in Spain and Poland have demonstrated a strong correlation between perovskite solar cell degradation and the combined effects of climatic and operating conditions. The scientists found that open-circuit operation accelerates degradation, whereas operation at the maximum power point and under short-circuit conditions has a lower impact.

Researchers at the University of New South Wales in Sydney are working with the institution’s spinout company BT Imaging to accelerate the commercialisation of solar cell defect detection technology, thanks to a $1.4 million commercialisation project. 

The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) agreed this week to enhance collaboration with Singapore’s energy market regulator on electricity and gas market regulation, as well as low-carbon technologies.

Director of CSIRO Mineral Resources Dr Louise Fisher reveals how collaboration across research, industry and government is driving decarbonisation, digital transformation and the development of sustainable, globally competitive supply chains for critical minerals.

Pioneering solar researcher Martin Green has received arguably one of the world’s top awards for engineers and scientists in recognition of his achievements in photovoltaics and driving the global shift to renewables.