Research

Scientists in India have proposed to design new tandem solar cells using transition metal dichalcogenide as an absorber material for the bottom PV device. Their simulations showed these tandem cells may reach an efficiency of more than 35%.

ClearVue Technologies has joined a $20 million research project aimed at transforming agrivoltaics while generating clean energy using the company’s transparent solar glass technology.

Over $2.6 million have been allocated to renewable energy research products involving perovskite cell commercialisation, battery cell aging, next-gen anode technology, electric vehicle charger security, and solving distributed energy resource network constraint complexity.

Researchers have simulated 160 cases of PV rooftop installation in southern and northern Italy. Among changing parameters were size and type of the panels, as well as their roof cover rate. The considered albedos were 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80%, representing different types of roof materials.

The feasibility of deploying floating solar systems on farm-based water storages to optimise water retention and generate renewable energy that could serve as an alternative income stream for landholders will be investigated as part of an Australian-first research project.

The tandem device is based on a bottom organic cell that can achieve a power conversion efficiency of 17.9% and a high short-circuit current density of 28.60 mA cm2. Furthermore, it uses a top perovskite solar cell with an open-circuit voltage of 1.37 V and a fill factor of 85.5%.

A pilot hydrogen energy plant that will employ a novel approach by producing green hydrogen directly from water and sunlight, without relying on electrolysers or grid power, is on track to begin commissioning in South Australia next month.

Australian researchers are reporting a breakthrough with zinc-ion battery technology, developing a new method to significantly boost the structural stability of the cathode material that enables the battery to operate reliably for more than 5,000 charge-discharge cycles.

Researchers at the CSIRO have proven a new full thermochemical hydrogen production cycle – from solar input to hydrogen output – has the potential to achieve a solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of higher than 20%, 5% more than many existing systems.

Researchers at the University of Adelaide have developed a new dry electrode fabrication strategy for aqueous zinc-iodine batteries they say delivers cathodes with more than double the performance of iodine and lithium-ion batteries.