Chinese scientists have developed an AI model that can identify the best locations for installing double-sided solar panels. The model uses data from satellites and weather stations to optimize the placement of photovoltaic modules. The Tibetan Plateau and deserts of Xinjiang are identified as the best spots in China for installing double-sided PV panels to maximize energy output. Dual-sided panels are capable of generating more power than single-faced panels, but they are difficult to transport and maintain. China is the largest producer of solar PV modules, accounting for around 80% of the global total [51db7d0c].
The AI model created by researchers from Tsinghua University and the National Tibetan Plateau Data Centre uses sunshine data from 2,500 weather stations across China to predict the amount of direct and indirect radiation at any given spot. The model can be applied globally without additional training with local data. The AI system also reveals the solar potential of remote areas in China that lack power line infrastructure. The area surrounding the Taklamakan Desert in Xinjiang and the eastern Tibetan Plateau are identified as ideal spots for dual-sided panels due to high direct and diffuse solar radiation in these regions. The AI model has high accuracy and can be used for solar radiation projections globally by combining its inputs with meteorological data from other countries. The data can also be applied in other fields such as agriculture [51db7d0c].
Perovskite solar cells offer lower costs and higher efficiency than silicon cells. They have the potential to revolutionize the solar industry. The majority of solar panels are made of silicon, which has an efficiency of 22%. Perovskite cells can generate much more solar power than silicon with a lower price tag. Researchers have been experimenting with stacking perovskite cells on top of silicon cells to boost efficiency. The difficulty in manufacturing perovskite cells lies in directly coating the semiconductor onto glass plates used as panels. Researchers have found a solution by adding DMAFo to the perovskite solution to prevent oxidation. Perovskite cells made with DMAFo achieved an efficiency of nearly 25%. The cells' endurance was also enhanced by this additive. Perovskite solar cells are closer to being commercially produced. Researchers are working on tandem cells with an efficiency level of over 30% and a long operating lifespan. Perovskite cells have a wide range of applications, including electric vehicle roofs. They could provide a car with up to 25 miles of range each day. Perovskite cells are as energy-efficient as silicon cells. The use of dimethylammonium formate in solar cells has shown promising results. The research is led by a consortium called TEAMUP, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. The efficiency and cost-effectiveness of perovskite cells make them a viable option for various industries [645c4ba1].
Tandem PV, a perovskite solar technology company, has been awarded $4.7 million by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) to pursue the commercialization of its thin-film solar photovoltaic technology. The award is part of a $71 million DOE investment to boost the U.S. clean energy supply chain. Tandem PV's design combines conventional silicon solar cells with thin-film perovskite materials, resulting in panels that can be up to 40% more powerful than current panels. The company has already achieved 26% efficiency in its tandem perovskite panels, which is 25% more powerful than typical silicon panels. Tandem PV plans to obtain industry-standard validation of efficiency and durability in 2024 and is also working on establishing a manufacturing facility [51ce65bb].
Researchers at Odisha University of Technology and Research in India have created a model for a direct-current (DC) electric motor powered by solar panels. The motor achieves an impressive 88 percent efficiency compared to the typical 75 to 80 percent efficiency of DC motors. The motor's efficiency is optimized using an AI algorithm that adjusts the resistance of the solar cells based on temperature and sunlight measurements. The solar-powered motor can run off the solar panels when it's sunny and off a battery when it's cloudy. The motor's regenerative braking system also charges the battery by converting kinetic energy from braking into electrical energy. The team has only created a virtual model so far, but hopes to build a real one in the future. The solar-powered motor could be used in industrial machines, household appliances, and electric cars, eliminating the need to plug EVs into the power grid. Solar-powered cars (SPCs) use photovoltaic cells to turn sunlight into electricity and can add between 15 and 45 extra miles in sunny weather. Companies like Aptera Motors and Lightyear are pioneering SPC technology. The 2024 Kia EV9 has a solar panel built into its hood. The article concludes by mentioning the possibility of powering charging stations with clean energy [69f41046].
Taiwanese green technology companies PV Circonomy and EasyCycle Online have announced plans to develop their first U.S. processing facility and office in Southwest Riverside County. EasyCycle Online will be located in the Temecula Valley Entrepreneurs Exchange (TVE2), while PV Circonomy will establish its first U.S. processing facility in Menifee. EasyCycle Online has created an AI-driven software that, when paired with PV Circonomy's advanced solar panel recycling hardware, will bring a new industry to the United States. PV Circonomy CEO Dr. Andrew Hung expressed excitement about the announcement, stating that their mission toward a circular economy will benefit local communities and California, as well as the entire United States [80348724].
ClearVue PV, an Australia-based solar window company, has chosen San Jose as its headquarters for its United States operations. The company has developed a cutting-edge 'solar window' that can be used as a facade for buildings to make them more energy-efficient and capable of generating electricity. The solar window allows light to pass through the glass and redirects the incoming sun rays onto solar cells that can generate electricity for the building. ClearVue aims to leverage San Jose's leadership in green energy to drive success for its solar window products. The company currently has a handful of employees and expects to expand to 20 workers at its San Jose headquarters [98dc8016].
U.S. researchers at the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory used a circular economy framework to determine how to scale, deploy, and design metal halide perovskite solar panels to be easily recyclable in the future. The researchers evaluated sustainability aspects such as energy intensity of manufacturing, carbon intensity, rare mineral mining, recyclability, earth abundance, cost, fossil fuel derived, fail-safe encapsulation, health hazards, and flammability. They identified five key areas and opportunities to pursue: enhancing MHP module reliability, investigating the supply chain of low-trade-volume raw materials, seeking alternatives to indium, exploring how to accelerate PV glass recycling without downcycling, and further improving module remanufacturing processes. Circularizing the PV supply chain, particularly through recycling and remanufacturing glass, provides opportunities to lower the embodied energy and carbon of MHP-PVs. The perspective is detailed in “Sustainability pathways for perovskite photovoltaics,” published by nature materials [71fc57a2].