Next-Generation Hybrid Photovoltaic-Thermal Solar Technology Efficiency Limits
Solar energy is one of the most abundant renewable energy sources, and effective solar technologies have great potential to alleviate the grand challenges of rising…
Solar Energy
Air Cleared So Much During COVID-19 Shutdown, It Actually Increased Solar Power Output
As the air cleared after lockdowns, solar installations in Delhi produced 8 percent more power, study shows. As the Covid-19 shutdowns and stay-at-home orders brought…
Perovskite Nanocrystal Breakthrough Could Lead to a Better, Cheaper Solar Cells
Scientific instrument made at McGill reveals liquid-like properties of a solid substance. McGill University researchers have gained tantalizing new insights into the properties of perovskites,…
Scientists Develop a New Way to Turn Sunlight Into Fuel
The quest to find new ways to harness solar power has taken a step forward after researchers successfully split water into hydrogen and oxygen by…
Chemists Discover a New Way to Work with Heterogeneous Catalysts
Scientists have found a new way to work with heterogeneous catalysts, which are key chemical drivers in the development of energy technology and the production…
Researchers Develop Double-Pane Solar Windows That Generate Electricity
Using two types of “designer” quantum dots, researchers are creating double-pane solar windows that generate electricity with greater efficiency and create shading and insulation for…
‘Double-Glazed’ Solar Power Device Opens New Opportunities for Photovoltaics
Researchers from the University of Warwick have developed a new ‘double-glazing’ solar power device, which is unlike any existing solar panel and opens up fresh…
Total and Spectral Solar Irradiance Sensor Measures Solar Energy Input to Earth
We live on a solar-powered planet. As we wake up in the morning, the Sun peeks over the horizon to shed light on us, blanket…
Photosynthesis Design Principles Could Improve Solar Technology
Researchers from Yale University have identified natural design principles in photosynthesis that could improve energy efficiency in new solar technology. In photosynthesis, green plants use…
New Material Can Store Solar Energy During the Day and Release it Later as Heat
Engineers from MIT have developed a new material could harvest sunlight by day and release heat on demand hours or days later. Imagine if your…
Quantum Process Significantly Boosts the Energy That Can Be Harnessed from Sunlight
A newly published study details how a quantum process increases the number of electrons produced when light strikes a metal-dielectric interface. Researchers believe this finding…
Nanoscientists Improve the Stability of Perovskite Solar Cells
UCLA researchers have taken a step towards next-generation perovskite solar cells by using a metal oxide “sandwich.” The new design extends the cell’s effective life…
New Fabrication Method Improves Efficiency of Perovskite Solar Cells
Scientists from Brown University and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory have developed a method for making perovskite cells larger while maintaining efficiency. Using a newly…
Organic Photovoltaic Material Offers Great Promise for Solar Energy
Scientists at MIT believe modeling electron excitation in organic photovoltaic material could change the future of solar energy. The semi-conducting plastic is lightweight, flexible, relatively…
Light-Capturing Nanomaterials to Boost Efficiency of Photovoltaic Solar Cells
A new method to incorporate light-capturing nanomaterials into future solar-panel designs could make it easier for engineers to boost the efficiency and reduce the costs…
New Technology Could Transform Solar Energy Storage
Chemists at UCLA have developed a new technology that is capable of storing solar energy for up to several weeks — an advance that could…
MIT Energy Initiative Report Highlights the Future of Solar Energy
A new report by the MIT Energy Initiative assesses solar energy’s current and potential competitive position and identifies changes in U.S. government policies that could…
New “Tandem” Solar Cell to Harnesses More Sunlight
By combining two types of photovoltaic material, researchers from MIT and Stanford have developed a new “tandem” solar cell that harnesses more sunlight. Researchers at…