Technology and R&D

A group of researchers from the University of New South Wales and Chinese module manufacturer Jolywood has conducted a comprehensive assessment of how laser-assisted firing processes influence the behaviour of TOPCon cells under the thermal conditions encountered during soldering, lamination, and high-temperature stress.

Fortescue-backed startup Sparc Hydrogen has begun producing green hydrogen directly from water using concentrated solar at what it describes as a “first-of-its-kind” pilot plant in South Australia.

The Chinese manufacturer said its new Astro 7 TOPCon module features an innovative self-cleaning frame and a power conversion efficiency of 23.2%.

Solar energy forecasting company Solstice AI research has found a 10% improvement in weather / solar forecasting accuracy would generate an extra $38 million per year in profit for Australia’s utility solar, and worldwide, $9.5 billion.

Pertamina Power has teamed up with HyET Solaris to validate the commercial feasibility of producing and marketing HyET’s lightweight and flexible solar products in Indonesia, by developing a 50 MW per year factory pilot.

Renolit France has introduced the Alkor Bright reflective membrane for bifacial rooftop PV systems, offering high solar reflectivity and durability for flat or pitched roofs. The membrane helps keep buildings cooler while boosting the energy output of bifacial solar modules.

Researchers in China developed a monolithic perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell using a steric-complementary interface design, achieving a certified efficiency of 32.12% and enhanced long-term stability. This strategy optimises molecular fit in the perovskite lattice, improving both charge transport and device longevity.

An international research team led by the Australian National University and Chinese module manufacturer Longi has investigated antimony-doped Czochralski-grown silicon ingots as an alternative to phosphorous-doped ingots in the manufacturing of PV wafers and has found they exhibit slightly higher mechanical strength.

An international team of researchers led by engineering consultancy RINA Australia has completed a preliminary techno-economic study on the global potential for offshore floating PV. The results provide project cost benchmarking, country-specific economic assumptions, and a global assessment of offshore solar’s levelised cost of electricity.

Australian solar distributor OSW Group has enhanced its free solar, battery design and installation business tool, GreenSketch version 3.0 with new AI-powered features, that simplify and accelerate workflows.