Used in the manufacturing of solar cells, silicon wafers are an integral component that also create a sizable financial loss for the solar industry. About 5-10 percent of wafers get damaged during the production process, increasing the final cost of installed solar systems by billions of dollars each year. In an attempt to improve the efficiency of solar manufacturing, researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have developed a device that detects weak or defective wafers before they reach the solar cell production stage.

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Post tags: crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, green technology, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), NREL wafer device, photovoltaic cells, scientific research, Solar cells, solar cells manufacturing, solar panel costs, Solar Wafer Screening System, solar wafers, us solar industry

As snowstorms sweep the country, researchers at Sandia National Laboratories are warming up our winter blues with the creation of these gorgeous snowflake-shaped photovoltaic cells. The glitter-sized solar sequins are made from crystalline silicon and use 100 times less material to generate the same amount of electricity as standard solar cells made from 6-inch square solar wafers. Perfect for soaking up the sun’s rays on unusual shapes and surfaces, the solar cells are expected to be less expensive, more efficient, and have promising applications in textiles and clothing.

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Post tags: crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, glitter solar cells, green design, renewable energy, Sandia National Laboratories, Solar Power, sustainable design

Photovoltaic solar cells are available in two types — crystalline silicon cells, which are more efficient but more expensive, and amorphous silicon cells, which are less efficient but cheaper and thinner and therefore more adaptable. New research from the Technical University of Delft, Netherlands, has found that using hydrogen in the production of amorphous silicon, or “thin film,” cells can increase their efficiency from the usual 7 percent to roughly 9 percent.

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Post tags: amorphous silicon solar, crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, gijs van elzakker, hydrogen, inventux technologies, Netherlands, silane gas, technical university of delft, thin film solar