Hurdles ahead for viable ultra-thin solar cells
A new French study highlights the potential of ultra-thin PV cells, but the road to commercial production will be challenging. The researchers have proposed a series of novel cell architectures integrating photonic and electronic elements.
JA Solar chairman detained by anti-corruption authorities in China
It remains unclear why Chairman Jin Baofang was detained, but the company said its operations will not be affected. The Paper, a Chinese state-owned media outlet, reported that Jin’s detention might be connected to the fall of Liu Baohua, the formal deputy director of the National Energy Administration, which has also been under investigation by the anti-corruption authorities since mid-October.
Global PV module demand will reach 143.7 GW in 2021 – PV Infolink
Next year, the global solar panel demand may increase by around 15% and this will be mainly triggered by the completion of projects that were deferred by the pandemic this year.
Kalyon Solar increases module capacity to 1 GW
The Turkish PV module manufacturer said the capacity increase was necessary due to increasing demand from Turkey and abroad. The plan will be implemented by June 2021.
Botswana launches net metering scheme for rooftop PV
The new scheme, called Rooftop Solar Programme, is expected to allocate 10 MW of PV capacity over the next 12 months.
Standalone PV with pumped storage could deliver LCOE of $0.053/kWh
A new Indian study shows that standalone PV systems combined with pumped storage could be a solution to energy poverty in developing nations. This easily deployable, chemical-free approach might be best in countries that lack battery-recycling rules, the researchers said.
DC voltage regulation technique for grid-connected solar-plus-storage
Researchers in India have developed a new method to operate a solar-plus-storage system in a stable manner under varying operating conditions. They claim that their novel technique enables the regulation of the DC link voltage and is able to compensate reactive power while supplying active power to a local load in grid-connected operation.
SunRun’s Q3 earnings reveal strong growth
Sunrun has reported a strong third quarter, as order volumes have increased significantly.
New method to recover silicon from end-of-life modules
Compared to other techniques based on chemical reactors and organic solvents, the proposed method is said to be able to maintain a “good mechanical yield” in the recovered solar cells. According to its creators, this technique allows the reuse of silicon from the recycled panels in the production of new solar cells.
Open-source method to build flexible floating PV systems
A U.S.-Finnish research team has developed an after-market method to adapt commercially available flexible thin-film solar panels for applications in floating PV projects. The special panel design can be applied to three types of floating materials, including neoprene, mincell, and polyethylene.
