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Cornell University Opens New 2-MW Sutton Road Solar Farm in Geneva, New York

Bring on the sunshine: Cornell University’s new Sutton Road Solar Farm, a 2-megawatt energy facility that will offset nearly 40 percent of the annual electricity demand at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station (NYSAES) in Geneva, New York, became fully operational April 13.

4 May 2016

Researchers Propose New Model for Recycling Lithium-Ion Batteries into Solar Power Systems

Despite their hefty price tag, smartphones have an average consumer lifetime of about three years. The lithium ion batteries that power them, however, can last for about five years -- meaning that just about every discarded smartphone generates e-waste and squanders the battery’s twilight years.

20 Apr 2016

Scientists Explain Inefficiency of Zinc-Oxide Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Specialized systems of materials, like those comprising of inorganic and organic thin films, are required to convert solar energy into solar fuels or electricity. Processes taking place at the junction of these thin films play a vital role in transforming the solar energy.

18 Apr 2016

PolyU Team Fabricates Perovskite-Silicon Tandem Solar Cells with Record-Breaking Conversion Efficiency

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has successfully developed perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells with the world's highest power conversion efficiency of 25.5% recently. Perovskite solar cells first appeared in 2009 with an efficiency of just 3.8%.

13 Apr 2016

Researchers Use Bacteria-Powered Solar Panel to Generate Clean Energy

A team of researchers from Binghamton University have successfully connected nine bio-solar cells into a bio-solar panel for the first time ever, facilitating the next step in the development of bacteria-powered energy.

12 Apr 2016

Researchers Aim to Develop Battery and Solar Cell Hybrid from Two Single Systems

In the FFG project SolaBat, TU Graz is entering almost new research territory. Photovoltaic cells are to be combined into one device with electrochemical energy storage systems.

1 Apr 2016

EPFL Scientists Achieve Record-Level Reproducibility for Perovskite Solar Cells

EPFL scientists achieve the highest yet reproducibility for perovskite solar cells combined with a boundary-pushing 21.1% efficiency at normal operating conditions.

18 Mar 2016

Novel ORNL Technique Paves Way for Improving Solar Cell Performance

Measurement and data analysis techniques developed at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory could provide new insight into performance-robbing flaws in crystalline structures, ultimately improving the performance of solar cells.

16 Mar 2016

CPI, Merck and Polysolar to Develop Building-Integrated Photovoltaic Windows

The Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) is part of a consortium which is developing building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) devices that will enable windows of the future to not only generate their own solar power but also provide greater thermal control.

15 Mar 2016

NASA Selects Four Proposals to Develop Advanced Solar Technologies for Deep-Space Exploration

As part of its Game Changing Development (GCD) program, NASA has chosen four proposals to build next-generation solar array technologies for deep space missions. The aim of the program is to develop solar arrays that will help spacecraft to explore space destinations that lie outside of the low-Earth orbit.

15 Mar 2016