Improving solar cell efficiency with upconversion nanoparticles
An international research group has developed a light upconversion system that can reportedly improve crystalline silicon solar cell efficiency by up to 0.87%. The technology consists of multilayer nanoparticles that act as near-infrared absorbers across different spectral ranges.
France concludes C&I rooftop PV tender with average price of €0.09995/kWh
The French authorities have wrapped up a commercial and industrial (C&I) rooftop PV tender with an average price of €0.09995 ($0.1055)/kWh. The government has allocated 253.3 MW of solar capacity in total.
UK commits to hydrogen-to-power subsidy mechanism
The UK government announced a new business model for hydrogen, based on dispatchable power agreements available to carbon capture technologies.
Fire risk for home energy storage systems is 0.0049%, says German study
RWTH Aachen University in Germany has investigated the safety of battery storage systems and compared it with other household appliances or technologies. The study aims to create a reliable database for classifying fire risk for consumers and regulators.
What happens when fire hits PV systems deployed on sloped roofs
An international research team has observed how fire propagates in PV systems installed on flat roofs and has found that a certain amount of energy is needed for a fire to start and propagate in the cavity below the solar panels.
Photovoltaic-thermal window achieves 3.6% electrical efficiency, provides hot water at 50 C
Scientists have developed a window that uses a semi-transparent amorphous silicon PV layer. The group tested the system in London at different inclination angles and found it can achieve a maximum electrical efficiency of 3.6% and a maximum thermal efficiency of 17.6%.
Widespread financial support for industrial heat pumps in Europe
A report from the European Heat Pump Association finds evidence of grants, loans or tax rebates for industrial-sized heat pumps across the continent but calls for barriers to further installations, such as a lack of awareness of their potential, to be addressed.
Bringing clean African electrons to Europe
A raft of ambitious interconnection projects has been announced to bring African electrons to European shores. While there are financial and supply chain challenges to overcome, the renewables potential on offer across North Africa is exciting investors.
The Hydrogen Stream: US government, ABI Research predict lower H2 costs
The US government says electrolysis could reduce clean-hydrogen production costs to $1/kg by 2031, while ABI Research claims the global levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) will become cost-competitive by the end of this decade, dropping to $2.50/kg.
Germany’s Solarmax facing bankruptcy
Residential PV storage systems and inverters provider Solarmax is provisionally filing for bankruptcy in Germany but will continue to operate.
