Emiliano Bellini
KAUST, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin present 31.2%-efficient blade-coated perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell
The perovskite-silicon tandem device has a two terminal configuration and a 2D perovskite layers at the bottom interface. It was able to retain around 80% of its initial efficiency for 1,700 h.
JinkoSolar announces new TOPCon solar modules with efficiency of 24.8%
The Chinese manufacturer said the new Tiger Neo 3.0 modules are available in two versions with outputs of 495 W and 670 W.
Trina Solar claims 25.9% efficiency for large-area industrial TOPCon solar cells
The Chinese manufacturer said the result was confirmed by Germany’s Institute for Solar Energy Research in Hamelin.
Research shows residential PV is becoming less attractive in Germany
Through a new methodology based on Decoupled Net Present Value (DNPV), a German research team has found that residential photovoltaic systems were not economically viable under most market conditions at the beginning of 2023. Although lower modules prices have significantly improved system profitability in recent months, several influencing factors that change over time may still have an impact on revenue.
Climate data-based methodology for residential air-source heat pump sizing
A European research team proposed a new air-source heat pump sizing approach that utilizes long-term climate data and adjusts system operation based on actual local climate conditions. The sizing algorithm incorporates peak heat demand, unitary final energy demand, and seasonal heat demand across different house sizes.
Saudi Arabia’s 3.7 GW solar tender attracts lowest bid of $0.0129/kWh
Saudi Power Procurement Co. (SPPC) has announced the shortlisted bidders for the the fifth round of the Saudi Arabian government’s renewable energy tender program.
Trina Solar sues Canadian Solar for alleged TOPCon patent infringement
Trina Solar has filed a lawsuit against Canadian Solar in a US court, claiming patent infringement on an unspecified tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) solar cell technology.
Belgian grid operator accelerates smart meter deployment for PV system owners
Belgian grid operator Fluvius plans to install around 403,000 smart meters in solar-powered homes by 2025, when their use becomes mandatory. So far, the company has installed 553,500 smart meters in Flemish homes with PV systems.
Dutch grid operators propose limitation contracts to free up 880 MW of capacity
Dutch grid operators TenneT, Enexis, Liander, and Stedin say that expanded use of “capacity limitation contracts” among renewable energy operators could free up about 880 MW of additional grid capacity. The contracts are granted by congestion service providers (CSPs), which act as intermediaries in the Netherlands.
With or without PV, air-source heat pumps are among cheapest residential heating sources
New research from Germany shows that identifying the cheapest residential heating source remains challenging, as the final results depend on the assumptions made and energy prices. The scientists, however, demonstrated that air-water heat pumps and gas heating systems are currently the most cost-effective solutions.
