New anti-reflective coating for silicon solar cells
Developed by an international research group, the novel anti-reflective coating is based on silicon dioxide and zirconium dioxide. It reportedly minimizes a solar cell’s reflection loss, while enhancing its light absorption properties.
Photovoltaics for wastewater disinfection
Researchers in Spain have developed a new system that simultaneously produces PV power and disinfects wastewater.
Israel raises tariffs for commercial PV by up to 33%
Israel’s Electricity Authority says it has reached a decision on tariffs, as current rates do not ensure the viability of large rooftop PV projects. It has also raised the tariff for stored electricity sold at peak times.
Drones vs. aircrafts for PV plant inspection
Scientists in Italy have investigated the performance of drones and a human-crewed airplanes for carrying out aerial infrared thermography inspections on PV power plants. According to their findings, airplanes may be more cost-effective.
The Hydrogen Stream: Hyundai, IIT Madras partner to set up Hydrogen Innovation Valley in the Indian State of Tamil Nadu
Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) announced it has received a grant of INR 100 crore (over $12 million) from Hyundai towards the establishment of a dedicated ‘Hydrogen Innovation Valley’ in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
Israeli startup launches 530 W bifacial PVT panel
P.G. Solar Greener says that its new panels have a thermal capacity of 1,280 Wh. They can reportedly achieve an overall dual electrical efficiency of 26%, due to an embedded cooling technique.
How to integrate residential solar-plus-storage with vehicle-to-home systems
Researchers from Australia have created a model to optimize the interaction between vehicle-to-home (V2H) systems and residential PV connected to battery storage. They claim V2H can help reduce the cost of energy by 16.7% for workplace charging and 25% for public charging.
Passive solar module cooling tech based on PCM, heat sink fins, water
A global research group has designed a novel PV module cooling system based on multiple cooling sources. The proposed system was able to reduce a PV system temperature by up to 16.7 C and increase power output by over 9%.
Batteries in hybrid hydro-PV systems could increase profitability by 2%
Researchers from Norway have discovered that adding batteries to projects that combine hydropower and floating PV could increase annual profits by as much as 2%, due to revenues from ancillary services and capacity markets.
Reducing PV module temperature with beeswax, paraffin wax
Scientists in Iraq have applied two different kinds of phase-change materials to lower the operating temperatures of PV panels. Their experiment showed that beeswax and paraffin wax are particularly effective in achieving this goal, even when they are combined together.
