A new membrane distillation process that uses solar heat to produce drinking water from seawater or wastewater has been developed. The technology can double the production of drinking water compared to existing methods, making it a promising solution for isolated areas without access to potable water.
Scientists have created next-generation solar modules with high efficiency and good stability using perovskite material. The breakthroughs address key issues such as scalability and durability, paving the way for commercialization.
Researchers at NTU Singapore have created a perovskite solar mini module with the highest power conversion efficiency, paving the way for market adoption. The use of thermal co-evaporation enables scalable production of large-area perovskite solar cells.
Researchers have identified the structural changes and metallization caused by external pressure in hybrid Perovskite solar cells. The study provides a theoretical explanation for phase transition and metallization, paving the way for high-performance solar cell materials that can withstand extreme environments.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison created a highly efficient and long-lasting solar flow battery, achieving a record efficiency of 20%. The device combines silicon solar cells with advanced materials integrated with optimally designed chemical components.
Researchers have developed a highly efficient solar-flow battery that can store and redeliver renewable electricity from the sun. The device achieved a record efficiency of 20 percent conversion, outperforming previous records by 40%. This breakthrough could potentially yield a new way to harness, store and use the sun's energy for sol...
The study demonstrates that solar assisted heating networks can reduce environmental impact by up to 89.3% compared to traditional heat generation methods, while also providing economic benefits through cost reduction of up to 66%. The system is most effective in larger communities, with a return on investment within 13.7 years.
A new mathematical model for solar irradiance prediction has been developed at Uppsala University and proved highly reliable. The MCM model provides accurate forecasts of solar power production fluctuations, enabling greater control over solar energy use.
Researchers from NYU Abu Dhabi used helioseismology to analyze the Sun's interior and found that the meridional flow is a single cell in each hemisphere. This process determines the characteristics of the sunspot cycle, supporting the flux-transport dynamo model.
Scientists studied sunspots and their movement, discovering a giant cell in each hemisphere with plasma moving towards the equator at 15 km/h. The meridional flow explains why sunspots emerge closer to the equator as solar cycles progress.
Researchers at KU Leuven have created a self-consistent simulation of solar flares, allowing them to calculate the energy conversion efficiency. This breakthrough enables the prediction of key aspects of space weather phenomena, including the Northern Lights.
Researchers have created a new 'sun clock' using 200 years of sunspot observations to map solar activity over 18 solar cycles. The analysis reveals sharp transitions between quiet and active periods in solar activity, allowing scientists to estimate the risk of future solar superstorms.
The 'Testbench' project enhances the quality of efficiency measurements for solar power storage systems, facilitating comparison and standardization. The goal is to improve reproducibility and confirm the results, ultimately benefiting operators and manufacturers in the growing market.
Researchers found that double-sided solar panels combined with single-axis tracking technology are the most cost-effective solution, producing almost 35% more energy than traditional systems. This combination reduces electricity costs by an average of 16%.
Researchers at RMIT University designed a solar chimney that optimises energy saving and fire safety, increasing evacuation time from two minutes to over 14 minutes. The design maximises ventilation for cooling and sucks smoke out of the building in case of fire.
Researchers at Iowa State University have developed a new type of solar cell that can withstand high temperatures while maintaining efficiency. The breakthrough uses a hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite material that is stable at temperatures above 200°F and has a photoconversion efficiency of 11.8%.
Researchers have created next-gen perovskite solar cells that generate electricity while allowing light to pass through, transforming windows into active power generators. Two square meters of solar window can produce the same amount of electricity as a standard rooftop solar panel.
Researchers have developed an innovative approach to enhance the performance of solar cells, which could lead to a significant increase in efficiency and revolutionize photovoltaics. The new method, published in Nature Energy, demonstrates potential for ultra-high-efficiency single-junction semiconductor devices.
Researchers at the University of Arkansas will lead a multi-institutional project to protect solar technologies from cyberattack. The project aims to develop cybersecurity systems for photovoltaic energy technology and devices, including solar PV inverters.
Scientists at NREL have fabricated a solar cell with an efficiency of nearly 50%, setting two world records for the highest solar conversion efficiency. The six-junction solar cell can be used in concentrator photovoltaics to reduce material usage and increase efficiency.
University of Wisconsin-Madison physicists have provided an explanation for the discrepancy in solar wind temperature. By applying mirror machine theory, they found that the hot electrons stream from the sun to large distances, losing energy slowly and distributing it to trapped particles.
A new type of solar cell with a wide bandgap perovskite material has been developed to improve efficiency and durability. The researchers achieved a 26.7% efficient power conversion rate in their double layer solar cell, with the material retaining 80% of its initial capability after 1,000 hours of continuous illumination.
A Bristol team has developed a new photosynthetic protein system that enables an enhanced and more sustainable approach to solar-powered technological devices. The system uses both chlorophyll and bacteriochlorophyll, demonstrating poly-chromatic solar energy harvesting for the first time.
Researchers have successfully created translucent solar cells with a high efficiency level of 12.2%, solving issues of flexibility and transparency. The development paves the way for integrating solar cells into everyday infrastructure, such as energy-generating vehicles and buildings made from glass.
Researchers at UNIST have developed flexible and transparent solar cells that can absorb reflected light, increasing their efficiency. The new solar cell structure takes advantage of the theoretical light absorption mechanism to recycle reflected light, enabling it to maintain over 95% initial efficiency even after bending tests.
Researchers at CU Boulder have developed a low-cost solar cell with one of the highest power-conversion efficiencies to date by layering perovskite cells on top of silicon cells. The new technology increases efficiency by up to 27% and is more affordable than current silicon-based cells.
Researchers from the University of Toronto and KAUST have created a highly efficient and stable tandem solar cell by combining perovskites with silicon. The tandem solar cell achieved an efficiency of 25.7% and was stable for over 400 hours at high temperatures.
Researchers successfully combined graphene with tandem perovskite-silicon solar cells to achieve efficiencies of up to 26.3%, almost doubling the efficiency of pure silicon. This new approach enables large-area solar panels with reduced production costs.
The Korea Institute of Energy Research has successfully developed a lightweight and flexible CIGS thin-film solar cell on polymer substrate with an efficiency of 20.4%, surpassing the existing highest efficiency of 20.8%. The researchers introduced a new low-temperature film formation technology to enhance device efficiencies.
Researchers at KAUST have discovered a way to boost the efficiency of long-lived inverted perovskite solar cells, achieving record-certified efficiency of 22.3 percent. The innovative approach involves adding long-chain alkylamine ligands during production, which enhances stability and reduces boundary defects.
Researchers developed a new material technology to create high-efficiency perovskite solar cells using eco-friendly organic materials dissolved in peppermint oil or walnut aroma. The new polymers overcame the instability issue of conventional perovskite solar cells, maintaining 88% efficiency after 30 days.
Developed by NREL and NIU researchers, the technique prevents toxic lead from leaking into water when perovskite solar cells are damaged. The additive layers reduce lead toxicity without affecting cell performance.
Scientists have developed a technique to sequester lead in perovskite solar cells, minimizing potential toxic leakage by applying lead-absorbing films to the front and back of the solar cell. The new approach has been shown to capture 96% of lead leakage under severe damage conditions.
Researchers at the University of Queensland have achieved a significant breakthrough in solar technology by developing a unique surface engineering strategy that improves the conversion of solar energy to electricity. The team set a world record for quantum dot solar cell efficiency, reaching 16.6%, which is a major improvement over pr...
A new study has refined our understanding of the amount of hydrogen, helium, and other elements present in violent outbursts from the Sun. The research found that helium and neon are enriched in coronal mass ejections, providing clues to the underlying physics in the Sun.
Researchers at Brown University found that perovskite films crack easily but can be healed with compression or moderate heat, which could improve durability and long-term reliability for commercialization
Researchers from ITMO University have proposed a technology for manufacturing high-efficiency solar cells based on A3B5 semiconductors integrated on a silicon substrate, which may increase the efficiency of existing photovoltaic converters by 1.5 times. The new technology could lead to more effective and affordable solar energy solutions.
A new study outlines a roadmap for perovskite-based solar cells to gain traction in the global market. Starting with higher-value niche markets, manufacturers can avoid steep initial capital costs and gradually expand production capabilities.
Scientists at the University of Rochester develop a new material that selectively absorbs light only at solar wavelengths, increasing efficiency by 130%. This innovation enhances solar power generation and has potential applications for thermal energy harvesting devices.
A SwRI-led team used data from NASA's Parker Solar Probe to identify low-energy particles near the Sun, likely originating from solar wind interactions beyond Earth orbit. The particles are thought to be created by stream interaction regions and can pose a radiation threat to space travelers and technology.
The NSF's Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope has produced its first images, showcasing a pattern of turbulent plasma that covers the entire sun. This breakthrough will enable scientists to better understand space weather and its impacts on Earth.
Astronomers analyzed two outbound comets and found their paths align with an interstellar origin scenario. The results suggest that these comets likely came from outside the Solar System, improving our understanding of the outer Solar System's origins.
The CSU team aims to improve the performance of cadmium telluride solar cells by tackling efficiency problems associated with the back contact layer, currently a bottleneck in widespread adoption. They hope to achieve a 25% light-to-energy efficiency with an improved back contact architecture.
KAUST researchers have devised a way to turn rigid silicon into solar cells that can be stretched by up to 95 percent while retaining a high solar energy capture efficiency of 19 percent. This breakthrough overcomes the rigidity limitation of silicon, allowing for flexible wearable electronics and robots.
A new thermodynamic formula reveals bifacial cells can generate 15-20% more sunlight to electricity than monofacial cells, taking into consideration different terrain and surfaces. The formula helps companies design more efficient next-generation solar cells.
Scientists developed flexible and efficient transparent solar cells with colour-neutrality using silicon microwires embedded in a polymer matrix. The devices demonstrate transparency of up to 55% and excellent flexibility, making them promising for future transparent solar cells.
The Parker Solar Probe has returned significant data on the Sun's atmosphere, revealing insights into the solar wind and its effects on space weather. The probe's findings have shed light on magnetic disturbances in the solar wind and the processes that heat the Sun's outer atmosphere.
Researchers in Korea have developed a strategy to transform opaque solar cells into transparent ones, allowing for more efficient energy harvesting. The transparent solar cells have a high-power conversion efficiency of 12.2 percent and long-term stability, making them ideal for turning windows into solar panels.
Researchers at Tallinn University of Technology have improved the efficiency of monograin layer solar cells by replacing copper with silver in absorber material. This innovation increases efficiency by 2%, making it an attractive solution for renewable energy production.
The Parker Solar Probe has discovered new evidence on how the solar wind is accelerated away from the Sun's surface, finding that bursty 'spikes' originate in holes near the equator and are generated by magnetic reconnection. The probe also measured a sideways speed of the solar wind, which contradicts previous predictions.
The Parker Solar Probe has mapped the source of the slow solar wind to coronal holes on the sun's surface, which are cooler and less dense than surrounding corona. The probe also detected switchbacks in the magnetic field that may accelerate particles toward Earth, posing potential damage to electrical grids and orbiting satellites.
The Parker Solar Probe mission has unveiled a surprisingly chaotic world within the sun's corona, characterized by rogue plasma waves, flipping magnetic fields, and distant solar winds. The findings have significant implications for space weather forecasting and our understanding of the sun's behavior.
A new machine learning tool can analyze massive amounts of satellite data to detect significant features for space weather. The algorithm identifies patterns that humans may miss, enabling faster and more accurate forecasts.
Scientists from NTU and UG have developed a method to identify the best pairs of materials in next-generation perovskite solar cells, which can capture more electricity. The new technique uses extremely fast lasers to observe how an energy barrier forms when perovskite is joined with a material that extracts electrical charges.
Arizona State University received five prestigious Department of Energy awards totaling $9.8 million to advance solar energy research and development. The funding will support projects to lower solar electricity costs, boost manufacturing, and make solar systems more resilient.
Magnetic reconnection near the solar surface generates solar spicules, which channel hot plasma into the corona. The study reveals that energy released from magnetic field realignment triggers enhanced spicular activity, causing local heating of the upper atmosphere.
A new type of perovskite material eliminates lead and improves stability for next-generation solar cells. These materials have been shown to be as much as 28% efficient compared to current panels capturing only 15-18%. The new organic-inorganic hybrid structure also offers a blueprint for other functional hybrid materials.
Southwest Research Institute successfully demonstrated a miniature solar observatory on a high-altitude balloon, collecting 75 minutes of solar images. The SwRI Solar Instrument Pointing Platform provides optical precision equivalent to imaging a dime from a mile away, supporting the development of custom solar instruments.
A new study finds that increasing solar and wind energy in California can enhance drought resilience and benefit groundwater sustainability. The researchers developed a trade-off frontier framework to quantify the water sustainability value of solar and wind energy.
A Princeton University-led study shows that solar and wind energy enhance drought resilience and aid in groundwater sustainability by reducing reliance on hydropower. The researchers suggest deploying solar and wind energy simultaneously with regulations on groundwater use can increase overall benefits.