100% Northeast Asian renewable system plotted
Finnish researchers have concluded that a 100% renewable energy system is feasible in China, Korea and Japan. They conclude that within 10 years solar and wind will be the cheapest sources of electricity in Northeast Asia.
Future PV: Incremental innovations to drive change
The future of PV will lie in incremental changes to drive up conversion efficiencies, according to Arno Stassen, the head of business opportunity development at Heraeus. And in good news, continues the technologist from the metal paste supplier, these gains will have a major impact on reducing the LCOE of solar electricity and making the technology more widely accessible and independent from government subsidies.
DNV GL to provide grid storage testing to ARPA-E
Renewable energy and sustainability advisory DNV GL has signed a four-year deal to supply performance testing for U.S. government agency ARPA-E. The testing will validate the performance, reliability and safety of grid-tied storage technologies for which Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) is providing funding.
Hanwha Q Cells to evaluate SoLayTec InPassion technology
Dutch research spinoff SoLayTec has announced that Hanwha Q Cells has begun evaluating its atomic layer deposition (ALD) technology. The InPassion ALD can be deployed for PERC upgrades and n-type cell production.
South Korean researchers develop new and improved perovskite formula
The blend addresses the technology’s inherent instability problems and reportedly delivers the highest-efficiency perovskite cell to date, according to IEEE Spectrum.
Dyesol to commercialize perovskite cells in Turkey
The successful completion of a pilot line phase would lead to the start of mass manufacturing in 2018, according to plans by Dyesol and Turkish partner Nesli DSC.
Amtech acquires SoLayTec from RENA
U.S.-based Amtech Systems has acquired p-type PERC and n-type technology supplier SoLayTec from RENA. SoLayTec will be brought into the Amtech group through its Dutch subsidiary Tempress Group Holding.
MegaCell, RCT sign bi-facial poly-crystalline technology transfer deal
The Italian company plans to use the technology for its expansion capacity project in Europe as well as for PV manufacturers interested in poly-cristalline bi-facial cells and modules.
SEMI: Equipment sales fall as book-to-bill remains negative
Worldwide PV equipment billings have fallen in Q3 2014, decreasing to $264 million, a fall over 17% quarter-on-quarter. Bookings also fell to $157 million, 33% below Q2, with the book-to-bill ratio remaining below parity.
NREL partners with GE on microgrid development project
Collaboration includes involvement from the Electric Power Research Institute and focuses on $8 million program to leverage capabilities of energy systems integration facilities.
