Mars Rover enjoys its day in the sun
After spending more than seven years constantly on the move in hazardous, previously uncharted territory, the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunitya geologic robot is taking some time to kick back and bask in the sun.
NREL and Natcore to develop black silicon products
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has entered a patent license agreement with Natcore Technology Inc. to develop a line of black silicon products that can help to increase solar PV cell efficiency.
Sun-Believable: Research on paint-on solar cells
The next coat of paint on the exterior of our houses may just generate electricity from the sun. University of Notre Dame’s researchers have taken a leap towards this vision by creating ‘solar paint’.
SolarWorld GT ends Australian leg
The solar racing car SolarWorld GT has crossed Australia and New Zealand, ending the first leg of the round-the-world trip. The solar powered car will now move on to San Francisco and then across the North American continent.
Organic solar cell with inverted architecture achieves 8.3 percent efficiency
Imec, Polyera and Solvay announce that they have achieved a world record efficiency of 8.3 percent on their organic solar cells, which use inverted architecture.
Simulated 3D solar cell achieves over 25 percent efficiency
Solar3D, Inc., developer of a three-dimensional solar cell technology, has announced that simulated tests on its new cell design, have indicated that conversion efficiencies of over 25 percent are achievable.
Schott second company to produce silver-free solar cell; closes cell facility
Just over a week after Imec and Kaneka announced they had developed a silver-free heterojunction silicon solar cell, Germany-based Scott Solar says it has produced a cell using copper contacts, instead of the precious metal. The company has also closed a cell production facility.
SunPower and Solar Impulse join forces
SunPower has been chosen to supply its photovoltaic cells to Solar Impulses new solar airplane, HB-SIB, which will attempt to circumnavigate the globe in 2014.
Roth & Rau reaches 21 percent wafer efficiency
Roth & Rau AG says it has reached a new milestone, having achieved 21 percent efficiency on a 156 mm wafer. The company expects the heterojunction technology to be ready for mass production “in the near future”.
Copper for silver cell swap expected to be commercialized "sooner" than expected
Imec and Kaneka have developed a silver-free heterojunction silicon solar cell, with a conversion efficiency of over 21 percent. Imec speaks to pv magazine about the achievement and states that the use of copper in commercial cell production could come sooner than many think.
