Technology and R&D

Researchers in Brazil have installed a vertical thermistor chain with six temperature loggers beneath a floating PV plant and at a nearby reference site. The system also recorded dissolved oxygen and photosynthetically active radiation to assess environmental impacts.

TNO and Solarge have developed a lightweight perovskite solar module prototype measuring 32 cm x 34 cm by combining roll-to-roll processing and low-weight panel materials. The Netherlands-based partners aim to scale the technology for broader commercial applications.

Researchers in Mexico have enhanced optoelectronic and solar cell performance by combining melanin with porous silicon powder. The compound improved photocurrent generation by boosting the luminescence of the silicon material.

New research from Saudi Arabia shows that PV, concentrated solar power (CSP), or hybrid PV-CSP systems could significantly reduce the levelized cost of hydrogen. CSP offers higher capacity factors, but PV-driven electrolysis provides the lowest projected cost for hydrogen production.

Researchers in Sweden have analyzed the impact of a hybrid heating system combining heat pumps and district heating on five real buildings. The analysis showed that residents were able to save up to €2,768 ($3,159) compared to a scenario without source coupling.

Fabricated via thermal evaporation, the champion perovskite-perovskite-silicon triple-junction solar cell reached an efficiency of around 22% after 110 hours of fixed-voltage operation under ambient conditions without encapsulation.

Compliance with ever-increasing cybersecurity regulations is a challenge for many in the energy storage industry but it creates big opportunities for risk-mitigation. Katherine Hutton and Lars Stephan, from energy storage integrator Fluence, take a closer look at cybersecurity compliance risks and how investors can mitigate revenue losses with a clear strategy.

Researchers in Spain have simulated an energy community with varying electric-vehicle penetration levels (0%, 50%, and 100%) to analyze system optimization under different regulatory frameworks and EV brands. Charging strategies significantly affected overall performance and outcomes.

US-based Ascent Solar Technologies says its latest 30cm2 Titan solar module has a power density of 1,960 W/kg and is designed for space applications.

The Dutch municipality of Utrecht has become the first city in Europe to introduce a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) car-sharing service. It features Renault 5 E-Tech electric cars that run on clean energy and feed power back to grid the during peak-demand times.