Technology and R&D

German laser systems provider InnoLas Solutions has reported that its 2014 bookings have shown an increase on 2013, on the back of orders for its Ultrafast PERC equipment. It reports bookings of over 1 GW of upgrades in Q1 2015.

Researchers have achieved an open voltage perovskite-cSi tandem cell with an open circuit (Voc) voltage of 1.65 V and a conversion efficiency of 13.7%. The team from MIT and Stanford report its work has identified key challenges in achieving efficiencies in excess of 25% with the tandem technology.

Firm to use money to help develop its Smart Off-Grid technology.

The funds will assist the demonstration and deployment of Bosch’s direct-current building-scale micro-grid platform, which the company says will provide a more reliable and resilient power supply to critical loads.

German PV equipment supplier Schmid is promoting its PERT technology as resulting in significantly reduced light-induced degradation than occurs in PERC multicrystalline cells. PERT refers to Passivated Emitter Rear Totally Diffused (PERT) technology that Schmid can achieve with its Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Vapor Deposition (APCVD) tooling.

A study released today has found that solar can supply more than 60% of electricity demand in the remote town of Alice Springs and the grid remain stable. The study concludes that an additional 10 MW of PV can be added to the town’s grid, although advises it be spread over nine 1.1 MW arrays to reduce the potentially destabilizing affect of variable cloud cover.

German PV production equipment supplier Singulus has booked a “substantial” order for process machines for the production of “high performance” solar cells. The order, in the “double digit of millions,” brings Singulus’ solar bookings in Q1 to more than $54 million.

UK-based perovskite technology developer Oxford PV has closed an £8 million (US$12.15 million) first-tranche B equity round to continue to develop its solar perovskite technology. The round doubles the amount of equity investment Oxford PV has raised to date.

This latest generation of the company’s kerfless wafer production machinery, which avoids feedstock waste by forming wafers directly from molten silicon, is designed to make more than 5 MW per year.

The Dresden-based organic PV provider is partnering with vTrium Energy on a pilot program that will contribute to the creation of a base for Singapore’s future energy mix while also delivering comprehensive data on the performance of the company’s solar films in tropical climates.