Delft Researcher Modifies Amorphous Silicon Solar Cells' Production Line to Raise Efficiency
Amorphous silicon solar cells lose their efficiency during the first hours of sunlight exposure, because of the phenomenon called the Staebler-Wronski effect, which has not yet been fully explained by science. After several hours of sunlight, these types of solar cells lose about a third of their efficiency, from 10 to 7 percent.
Xcel Energy Starts Hybrid Power Plant in Colorado
Designed by Abengoa Solar, a Spanish company that has its U.S. headquarters in Lakewood, the $4.5 million plant which is slated for shutdown by the end of 2010, has been converted to test the use of parabolic-trough mirrors.
New Organic Framework for More Efficient Graetzel Solar Cells Discovered
Scientists from Cornell University have unveiled a basic process that could give solar cells a boost in efficiency and a drop in price. The process employs molecules typically used in coloring blue jeans and in ink dyes. Their purpose if to build an organic framework that could serve as a building block for cheaper and flexible solar cells.
Jake Explains How to Build a Super-Cheap Solar Water Heater
Solar water heaters are not a new idea, but people who often complain about rising energy prices should be reminded to use such devices to help heat their homes and take a shower, too.
Amazing 35% Efficiency of Multi-Band Thin Film Solar Cells Demonstrated
Yet another solar cell breakthrough comes from RoseStreet Labs Energy, Inc (RSLE), who announces a new kind of multiband photovoltaic cell with three distinct light absorption regions, all integrated onto a single-layered thin film. The discovery is based on IBand, a technology proprietary to RSLE and is the first intermediate band solar cell prototyped in a laboratory.
Michigan Researchers Develop Technology to Make Plastic Solar Cells Cheaper Than Ever
Jay Guo, a professor of electrical engineering at the University of Michigan as developed a method to improve the fabrication technology of polymer solar cells. He used a simplified process for printing them, and demonstrated it on a large-area, roll-to-roll printing system. By eliminating steps in the old fabrication technology, plastic solar cells could be manufactured easier and faster.
EU Plans to Import Solar and Wind Generated Electricity from North Africa
In order to reach the 2020 target of having at least 20% of energy produced from renewable sources, The European Union will invest in solar and wind energy in North Africa. The resulted clean power will be imported in the EU via a new electricity interconnector design. Electricity will be carried via these cables running under the Mediterranean Sea directly to Europe.
New Polymer Coating for Plastic Solar Cells Boosting Their Lifetime
Researchers from the University of Alberta and the National Institute for Nanotechnology have just published a study and showed a prototype of a very cheap plastic solar cell that lasts for eight months at full operating capacity. The same plastic solar cell had lasted for only ten hours until now.
Quantum Dots Could Double the Efficiency of Solar Cells
A team of scientists from the University of Texas at Austin have discovered a way to double the efficiency of solar cells. The process consists in capturing more of the available energy in sunlight (including energy at the high end of the scale), using nanoscale crystals called quantum dots.
Dutch Researchers Designing 65% Efficient Nanowire Solar Cells
High efficiency solar cells are for the moment only available to space applications, because of their prohibitive costs. The Eindhoven University of Technology from The Netherlands, with a EUR 1.2 million help from the Dutch government wants to develop ultra-efficient solar cells that are also cheap. They envision their cells having a 65% efficiency, something even the satellites would envy.
