A team of researchers from Lund University analyzed ice cores from Greenland and Antarctica to discover a massive solar storm occurring during a quiet phase about 9,200 years ago. The study challenges the current understanding that solar storms are more likely to occur during active phases of the sun.
The NUS research team achieved a power conversion efficiency of 23.6% in their perovskite/organic tandem solar cells, approaching that of conventional silicon solar cells. This breakthrough paves the way for flexible, light-weight, and low-cost photovoltaic cells suitable for various applications.
Scientists have discovered a new type of wave that replaces electromagnetic waves called whistler waves in the solar wind, allowing for better understanding of energy flow near the sun. This discovery can help predict 'space weather' events that affect satellites and astronauts in space.
KTU researchers have developed new materials that significantly improve the stability and efficiency of perovskite solar cells. The new materials use a passivation method to prevent degradation, achieving an efficiency of 21.4% in record-breaking solar modules.
A new rapid thermal evaporation method was developed to deposit high-quality CdSe thin films, enabling the creation of efficient CdSe solar cells. The study achieved an efficiency of 1.88% in a Si-based tandem configuration, demonstrating potential for high-performance solar cells.
Researchers have developed a compact solar-powered battery that can be directly recharged with solar energy, reducing dependence on fossil fuels. The battery uses a heterostructure electrode made from molybdenum disulphide and oxide, which enhances surface area for efficient absorption of solar energy.
A team of researchers found that the building blocks of Earth and Mars originated primarily from the inner Solar System, contradicting a popular theory. The study analyzed the isotopic composition of rocky planets and meteorites, revealing that only about 4% of the material came from beyond Jupiter's orbit.
Researchers at TalTech in Estonia have developed monograin layer solar cell technology that can be used to generate electricity on the Moon. The technology uses pyrite, a mineral found in lunar regolith, and has the potential to provide sustainable power for future lunar outposts.
Researchers developed a new process to produce stable formamidinium perovskite (FAPbI3) materials, which can be used to make more efficient and stable solar cells. The novel approach uses lower temperatures and eliminates additives, making it suitable for large-scale production and flexible solar cell applications.
Parker Solar Probe successfully flew through the Sun's corona, sampling particles and magnetic fields, revealing critical information about the Sun's evolution and impact on solar system. The probe made new discoveries, including identifying the origin of switchbacks in the solar wind, which form near the solar surface.
The Solar Jet Hunter project, led by researchers at the University of Minnesota and supported by NASA, allows volunteers to identify solar jets in images captured over 11 years. By annotating images, citizen scientists contribute to a database that helps narrow down data on the Sun for further review.
Researchers at Northern Illinois University and NREL have developed a cost-effective Scotch-tape-like film that captures 99.9% of leaked lead from damaged perovskite solar cells. The film alleviates health and safety concerns without compromising performance or operation.
Researchers at Linköping University and Soochow University have developed a method to produce energy-efficient organic solar cells using green solvents, achieving a record efficiency of over 17%. The breakthrough enables the manufacture of larger areas of solar cells with high efficiency, paving the way for commercial-scale outdoor use.
A new photovoltaic solar heating system can produce domestic hot water using 95.06% of available energy, eliminating the need for fossil fuels and producing no waste or pollution. The system is designed to be versatile, sustainable, and economical, with potential applications in commercial and industrial use.
Researchers at NTNU have developed a method for making ultra-high material efficient solar cells using semiconductor nanowires, which could potentially double the efficiency of today's Si solar cells. The new technique uses gallium arsenide (GaAs) material in a very effective way through nanostructuring.
Researchers develop a more accurate mathematical model to predict solar cell output power, considering degradation and external factors. The new model will aid policymakers in making informed decisions on solar power installations.
A new instrument at the Advanced Light Source enables simultaneous measurement of crystal structure and optical properties during perovskite synthesis. This allows for real-time monitoring of material quality and performance, leading to potentially more efficient solar cells.
Researchers from Harvard and Tsinghua University found that solar energy could provide 43.2% of China's electricity demands in 2060 at less than two-and-a-half U.S. cents per kilowatt-hour. The study highlights a crucial energy transition point for China and other countries, where combined solar power and storage systems become a cheap...
Deploying honeybees on solar parks in the UK could raise crop yields and financial returns, with soft fruits and oilseed benefiting the most. The study found that prioritizing these crops within a 1.5km honeybee foraging radius around solar parks could boost values by £80 million annually.
Large-scale solar farms have a cooling effect on surrounding land, reducing temperature by up to 2.3°C at 100m away from the park boundaries. The study highlights the need for consideration in solar park design and location to minimize negative impacts.
Researchers have discovered a way to significantly increase the efficiency of solar cells by harnessing excess energy and storing it before it's lost as heat. This breakthrough could raise the industry standard limit from 30% to over 60%, addressing one of the major challenges in commercial solar cells.
A team of researchers identified a key mechanism responsible for lower organic solar cell efficiencies and demonstrated a way to overcome this hurdle. By manipulating molecules inside the solar cell, they prevented a process called recombination that leads to lost current, potentially achieving efficiencies comparable to silicon-based ...
A team of researchers from the University of Cambridge has identified a key loss pathway in organic solar cells that reduces their efficiency. By manipulating molecules inside the solar cell, they found a way to suppress this pathway and potentially overcome the hurdle for organic solar cells to compete with silicon-based cells.
Researchers developed a new system that can detect silicon solar panel defects even in full sunlight, making it easier to keep solar panels working optimally. The system uses a unique combination of hardware and software to image and analyze defects quickly and accurately, regardless of lighting conditions.
Researchers synthesized a new conjugated polymer using two chemical reactions, showing it outperforms traditional methods in organic and perovskite solar cells. The Stille reaction pathway yielded superior results with efficiencies of up to 15.1% in photovoltaic devices.
Scientists at Empa have pushed flexible solar cell efficiency to a new limit, achieving 21.4% conversion rate. The study's findings also show that the technology remains stable after exposure to combined heat and illumination.
Researchers developed cross-linked hole transport layers to improve perovskite tandem solar cell efficiency by reducing non-radiative recombination and increasing charge extraction rates. This approach enables higher power conversion efficiencies, surpassing the Shockley-Queisser limit of single-junction solar cells.
Researchers have developed a new structure and materials for tandem solar cells, enabling more light to be captured and energy converted effectively. The n-i-p configuration achieved a significant improvement in power-conversion efficiency, exceeding 27%, surpassing previous best values.
Researchers created a new sun clock to study the solar seasons. The study reveals that the switch from solar maximum to declining phase is fast, occurring within a few solar rotations. This discovery helps predict space weather events, such as violent activity on our Sun leading to extreme events on Earth.
Scientists have developed a novel technique to analyze magnetites in meteorites, providing a historical record of the early Solar System's dynamics. By studying the Tagish Lake meteorite, researchers infer that the parent body formed in the Kuiper Belt and moved to the asteroid belt after Jupiter's formation.
Researchers developed a simple desalination technology harnessing solar energy, increasing efficiency by 280-400% compared to traditional devices. The innovative system produces high volumes of clean water at lower costs, addressing global water scarcity.
The Big Bear Solar Observatory will become home to NSF's Synoptic Optical Long-term Investigations of the Sun (SOLIS) telescope, enabling researchers to study long-term changes in the Sun's activity and its impact on Earth. SOLIS will provide comprehensive observations of the Sun's magnetic fields, solar flares, and space weather events.
Researchers have developed a new method to capture and recycle lead from perovskite solar cells, addressing the environmental and health hazards associated with their use. The transparent phosphate salt solution prevents lead ions from leaching into the soil, rendering perovskite devices safer for large-scale commercialization.
The Perovskite Photovoltaic Accelerator for Commercializing Technologies Center aims to overcome challenges in perovskite-based photovoltaic technologies. The center will test at least 30 perovskite modules outside and eventually expand performance testing to 50 kilowatts.
A new recycling strategy for perovskite solar panels has been developed, which could reduce the carbon footprint of these panels by up to 72.6%. The recycling process could also lower the primary energy consumption of perovskite solar cells.
Organic solar cells have achieved record-breaking power conversion efficiency of 18.4% using a new technology developed by Lithuanian chemists at Kaunas University of Technology. The invention has been commercialized globally and shows potential for various applications, including light-emitting diodes and organic transistors.
Researchers found a correlation between intragrain planar defects and reduced solar cell performance in perovskite materials. Tuning the chemical composition of these films controlled the presence of defects, leading to improved solar cell efficiency.
Lehigh University engineers use Frontera supercomputer to simulate photovoltaic fabrication and train AI to optimize energy production. Their 'physics-informed machine learning' approach reduces time required to reach optimal process by 40%.
Entomologists say pairing solar energy with pollinator habitat has great promise, but standards are key to making it successful. Research suggests surrounding vegetation can boost solar panel efficiency, but more analysis is needed.
Researchers have developed semitransparent perovskite solar cells with high efficiency, enabling the creation of tandem devices that boost performance. The breakthrough could lead to transparent solar cells on windows, generating electricity from sunlight.
Researchers developed a holographic light collector that captures unused solar energy and increases the amount of solar energy converted by solar panels over the course of a year. The collector directs specific colors of sunlight to solar cells within the panel, resulting in an estimated five percent increase in annual yield.
Research from Harvard University suggests that solar geoengineering may be surprisingly effective in alleviating some of the worst impacts of global warming on crops. The study found that all three potential methods have a strong cooling effect benefiting crop yields.
Researchers from Heidelberg University found solar noble gases in an iron meteorite, indicating that solar wind particles encased in the Earth's core over 4.5 billion years ago. The discovery suggests a new perspective on the Earth's mantle and its geochemical development.
A new method using quantum mechanics increases energy transfer in organic solar cells, allowing for simpler structure and improved durability. This discovery has the potential to significantly increase the efficiency and reduce the cost of producing organic solar cells.
To reach its goal of 70% renewable energy generation by 2030, New York state will need to utilize lower-grade agricultural land and dual-use (agrivoltaics) options for solar energy development. This approach can help alleviate public concerns and mitigate negative economic activity in rural communities.
A new study by Oregon State University has found that combining solar panels and lamb grazing increases land productivity. The research compared lamb growth and pasture production in pastures with solar panels to traditional open pastures, finding less overall but higher quality forage in the solar pastures.
The study revealed key physics behind primary energy release, particle acceleration, and transportation in solar radio bursts. MUSER provides a unique tool for measuring solar magnetic fields and tracing dynamic evolution of energetic electrons.
Researchers in China have created a highly efficient desalination device powered by solar energy that can remove salt from seawater, producing freshwater. The device uses a titanium-containing layer and special paper to absorb sunlight and condense water vapor.
A study by RMIT University found that Australian government-owned airports could produce up to 10 times more electricity than residential panels in Bendigo, offsetting greenhouse gas emissions annually. The research suggests that installing large-scale rooftop solar systems at airports could power 136,000 homes and contribute towards a...
Researchers from Sandia National Laboratories used 22-foot-wide tethered balloons to collect dust samples, confirming the new solar-power technology's safety. The technology stores heat in heated particles, which can store energy for days or weeks, stabilizing power output.
A new study reveals that proximity to existing solar panels is the most significant factor influencing an individual's likelihood of installing solar panels on their own roof. The findings suggest that seeding solar panels in areas with few or no panels can create a tipping point, potentially leading to widespread adoption and replacin...
A Lancaster University-led team reviewed evidence on solar park land management practices to enhance pollinator biodiversity. They highlighted ten ways to protect and even enhance bee populations, including sowing wildflowers and connecting parks to nearby habitats.
A new study found that solar panels can increase flower abundance and delay bloom timing, benefiting pollinators. The research suggests that using solar panels for pollinator habitat restoration could aid the agricultural community and provide important ecosystem services.
Kanazawa University researchers have fabricated a highly efficient perovskite solar cell with nearly the energy conversion efficiency of commercial silicon-based solar cells. The development has the potential to increase the competitiveness of solar cells as a sustainable energy source.
A new study suggests that floating solar farms could help protect lakes and reservoirs from some of the harms of climate change, such as blooms of toxic blue green algae. However, further research is needed to understand the likelihood of both positive and negative impacts on water temperature and stratification.
Researchers will explore decision-making processes for adopting solar energy systems and electric vehicles, as well as improve the efficiency and manufacturing process for solar panels. The studies aim to identify non-technological barriers to clean-energy adoption and evaluate the effectiveness of low-cost interventions and incentives.
Researchers found that without battery storage, homeowners only use 30-40% of their solar PV electricity, while the rest is exported to the grid. With a home battery, self-consumption doubles and grid reliance reduces by up to 84%. Innovative energy policies can make PV-batteries profitable, even in low-solar irradiation countries.
Researchers suggest covering California's public water delivery canals with solar panels to reduce evaporation and increase renewable energy production. The study found that cable-supported installations showed a 20-50% higher net present value, indicating greater financial return on investment.
Researchers found no significant difference in plant growth or health when grown under different light filters, making see-through solar panels a feasible option for greenhouses. This technology could enable energy-neutral farming and reduce greenhouse emissions.
Scientists at Linköping University discover where unexplained energy losses occur during singlet fission, a phenomenon that can increase solar cell efficiency. The breakthrough could lead to higher efficiency rates, from 33% to over 40%, making solar cells more sustainable.