Inefficient building electrification risks prolonging fossil fuels
28 Jul 2022 at 4:27pm
A new study indicates that decarbonization pathways should incorporate more efficient electric heating technologies and more renewable energy sources to minimize strain on the U.S. electric grid during peaks in electricity usage from heating in the winter.

Chemists unlock secrets of molten salts
22 Jul 2022 at 3:48pm
Researchers have come up with a novel way to study the thermodynamic properties of molten salts, which are used in many nuclear and solar energy applications.

All-in-one solar-powered tower makes carbon-neutral jet fuel
20 Jul 2022 at 9:10am
Researchers have designed a fuel production system that uses water, carbon dioxide (CO2), and sunlight to produce aviation fuel. They have implemented the system in the field, and the design could help the aviation industry become carbon neutral.

Toward manufacturing semitransparent solar cells the size of windows
19 Jul 2022 at 8:34am
In an important step toward bringing transparent solar cells to home windows, researchers have developed a way to manufacture their highly efficient and semitransparent solar cells.

Reducing energy consumption: A new test system for passive cooling materials
18 Jul 2022 at 11:23am
Passive day cooling is a promising technology for the sustainable reduction of energy consumption. Researchers have now created a test system with which the materials used for passive cooling can be reliably characterized and compared -- regardless of weather conditions and environmental conditions.

Photovoltaics: Fully scalable all-perovskite tandem solar modules
14 Jul 2022 at 7:30am
Optimized light paths, high-throughput laser scribing and the use of established coating processes paves the way to commercial viability.

Using the power of the sun to roast green chile
6 Jul 2022 at 12:31pm
Roasting green chile is an important cultural touchstone for New Mexico, but it leads to a seasonal emission of approximately 7,800 metric tons of carbon dioxide -- the equivalent of driving 1,700 cars for a year. Sandia National Laboratories engineer Kenneth Armijo, who grew up on a chile farm in Sabinal, located between Albuquerque and Socorro, New Mexico, thought there was a 'greener' way to roast green chile. The results of his experiments roasting chile with concentrated sunlight will be shared at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers' conference on energy and sustainability next week.

Printing a new chapter in solar energy
5 Jul 2022 at 1:22pm
A simple and versatile nanoparticle ink could help next-generation perovskite solar cells to be printed at scale and become the dominant force in commercial photovoltaics.

Seeing photovoltaic devices in a new light
5 Jul 2022 at 1:22pm
Researchers described a novel effect in which the voltage generated by photovoltaic devices can change based on the color of incidence light. They show how this feature is due to random energy states that exist inside the antimony sulfiodide devices. This work may lead to more robust renewable energy generated by solar cells.

Strategies beyond recycling to bolster circular economy for solar and battery...
28 Jun 2022 at 10:39am
In a new comprehensive literature review, researchers have discovered that alternatives to recycling may have untapped potential to build an effective circular economy for solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery technologies. These alternative strategies, such as reducing the use of virgin materials in manufacturing, reusing for new applications, and extending product life spans, may provide new paths to building sustainable product life cycles.

Thin-film photovoltaic technology combines efficiency and versatility
27 Jun 2022 at 7:02am
Stacking solar cells increases their efficiency. Researchers have now produced perovskite/CIS tandem solar cells with an efficiency of nearly 25 percent -- the highest value achieved thus far with this technology. Moreover, this combination of materials is light and versatile, making it possible to envision the use of these tandem solar cells in vehicles, portable equipment, and devices that can be folded or rolled up.

A rethink of the building blocks for solar panels could help mass production
27 Jun 2022 at 7:01am
An original approach to mass-producing low-cost solar cell foundation blocks could lead to the wide adoption of solar panels made from perovskite ink -- a 'miracle material' -- according to new research.

Once seen as fleeting, a new solar tech proves its lasting power
16 Jun 2022 at 11:27am
Researchers have developed the first perovskite solar cell with a commercially viable lifetime, marking a major milestone for an emerging class of renewable energy technology. The team projects their device can perform above industry standards for around 30 years, far more than the 20 years used as a threshold for viability for solar cells.

Solar-biomass hybrid system satisfies home heating requirements in winter
31 May 2022 at 8:17am
Researchers outline a computer simulation model addressing the challenge of solar power's inherent intermittency by adding biomass as another renewable energy source to advance a reliable, affordable heating solution while reducing carbon dioxide emissions. The proposed solar-biomass hybrid system is based on distributed multi-generation technology that integrates photovoltaic-thermal and biomass power sources.

Researchers create highest efficiency 1-sun solar cell
24 May 2022 at 2:12pm
Researchers have created a solar cell with a record 39.5 percent efficiency under 1-sun global illumination. This is believed to be the highest efficiency solar cell of any type, measured using standard 1-sun conditions.