Mark Hutchins
Oxford PV receives €15 million financing from EIB
Perovskite solar start up, Oxford PV has received €15 million in financing from the European Investment Bank (EIB), to support its efforts at commercialization of silicon/perovskite tandem solar cell production.
SERIS reaches 21.5% efficiency for fully screen printed cell
The Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS) announced a new efficiency milestone, achieving 21.5% average cell efficiency for its fully screen printed bifacial silicon technology. According to SERIS, the milestone was achieved at pilot-scale production using commercially available wafers.
Solar Frontier hits new thin film cell efficiency record
The Japanese thin film module manufacturer has announced the achievement of a new world record, having achieved a 22.9% conversion efficiency for a CIS cell measuring 1cm². The record has been verified by Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology.
ETH Zürich demonstrates decentralized energy systems
Researchers at ETH Zürich have published a paper illustrating the potential for distributed energy systems with solar at their heart, as a replacement for the current centralized energy system.
Floating electrolyzer for PV powered hydrogen
Scientists at New York’s Columbia University have a developed a floating device, which uses PV generated electricity to convert seawater into hydrogen.
Malaysian pension fund acquires 45% stake in 365 MW PV portfolio
European renewable energy investment platform Vortex, has sold a 45% equity stake in Vortex Solar Investments to Kumpulan Wang Persaraan (KWAP), Malaysia’s second largest pension fund, in a GBP 67.5 million transaction.
Wirsol to acquire two ‘subsidy free’ solar projects in the UK
Wirsol has announced the acquisition of two solar projects totaling 16 MW, which are gearing up to begin construction in the U.K. Wirsol also says it has plans to expand this portfolio to around 150 MW over the next 18 months.
Fortum connects 100 MW PV plant in India
A 100 MW solar park in Tumkur District, Karnataka has been connected to the regional grid, reports project owner Fortum. The project is Fortum’s fourth project to be connected in India, and its largest so far, more than doubling its total capacity to 185 MW.
Researchers develop ‘grass like’ light-scattering nano structure for solar glass
A team of scientists from the University of Pittsburgh have created a glass surface with an etched nano structure that allows for up to 95% light transmittance, and can also scatter the light entering the glass, so that more light reaches a solar cell beneath.
SoLayTec receives follow on order for ALD equipment
SoLayTec B.V, a subsidiary of U.S. based equipment provider Amtech Systems, has announced a follow-on order from an unnamed customer for its atomic layer deposition systems, to be used in PERC cell production.
