Norway’s Volue has launched an automated trading tool for solar and wind operators covering most European power markets . The Volue Position Closer is a subscription-based tool targeted at renewable energy producers, portfolio managers, and municipal utilities.

Researchers have developed a novel passivation process for formamidinium lead iodide perovskite films, which reportedly resulted in solar cells with 23.69% power conversion efficiency, and modules with 21.44% certified efficiency. After 1000 hours, the hetero-polytypic passivated devices maintained 92% of their initial efficiency, outperforming untreated devices.

Portugal-based Effizency, a developer of sales software for solar PV and heat pump solution providers, has launched a new web-based simulator module that its customers can use to deliver initial price quotes and savings estimates to potential buyers.

Austrian researchers developed a model to quantify the benefits of vehicle integrated photovoltaic (VIPV) on the energy needs of three different sizes of electric vehicle in the city of Graz, Austria, particularly the effect on battery energy and vehicle mileage.

Researchers at the Polytechnic University of Madrid have validated a model to simulate solar resources for vehicle integrated PV in urban settings, taking into account reflections and shadows of buildings and objects.

Lithuania-based Solitek announced two new 435 W modules for integrated PV roofs featuring 22.04%-efficient cell technology. The Solitek’s Solid Solrif in-roof product line is paired with mounting systems supplied by Swiss-based Ernst Schweizer AG.

Panacol, a German adhesive supplier, has launched Elecolit 3648, a one-component electrically conductive adhesive (ECA) for flexible perovskite and organic PV connections. It was conceived to adhere well to a range of materials, including several types of plastic.

An international research group demonstrated the first perovskite solar cells on polycarbonate substrates, suitable for flexible PV applications. Using an industrially compatible fabrication method, the group produced devices with 13.0% power conversion efficiency, 87% of which was maintained after 1000 bending cycles at a radius of 20 mm.

The Germany-based consulting company has presented a new online tool for tracking, pricing and analyzing renewable energy power purchase agreements (PPAs). It is targeted at both buyers and sellers of renewable energy.

The latest irradiance sensor solution from Japan-based EKO Instruments provides continuous measurements in the field. Well-suited for bifacial PV systems, it supports the measurement of global horizontal irradiance, diffuse horizontal irradiance and direct normal irradiance, even in reflective and cloudy conditions.