Scientists at the Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO) modified an organic solar cell by swapping its indium tin oxide electrode for a thin silver one, turning the cell into an optical cavity that narrows the angle at which light is re-emitted. The change improved the cell's efficiency by about 0.85 percent, a small gain, but researchers say it demonstrates a path toward efficiencies approaching the theoretical limit of around 43 percent, according to lead author Francisco Bernal Texca.
engadget.com
· 2026-11-07
A Calgary Herald report profiles a 480-acre Alberta property where owner Mark Owerko combined a solar installation with sheep grazing and beekeeping over eight years. A related study in Environmental Research Letters found that grazing two sheep per hectare on solar-farm grasslands boosted beneficial insect populations by 38 percent, including an 83 percent rise in nearby honey bee numbers compared to mowed sites. Owerko's project was approved just before Alberta tightened rules on renewable energy development on agricultural land.
futurism.com
· 2026-11-02
A small company is developing a concentrated solar power system in which a fossil-fueled backup shares most of the generating equipment, such as the turbine, with the solar thermal side. The approach uses heliostat mirrors to focus sunlight onto a tower that heats a working fluid, which can drive a steam turbine directly or be stored for overnight power generation. The design aims to avoid building a completely separate backup facility for times when sunlight is insufficient.
arstechnica.com
· 2026-10-29
New BBC reporting indicates photovoltaic solar will supply 10 percent of global power generation by the end of 2026, surpassing nuclear fission output. Solar generation has grown roughly 2,700-fold over the past 26 years while nuclear output has remained largely flat, a trend Oxford energy policy professor Jan Rosenow attributes partly to falling photovoltaic costs driven by Chinese manufacturing supply.
futurism.com
· 2026-10-27
Scientists developed a surface treatment method aimed at improving both efficiency and durability of large-area perovskite solar modules, according to a report published via Nature. The approach targets scaling up perovskite photovoltaic technology while addressing the stability issues that have limited its commercial viability.
nature.com
· 2026-09-23
Solar panel prices have plunged from roughly $5-6 per watt 26 years ago to about 12 cents per watt today, according to Ember co-founder Dave Jones cited in a Financial Times report. The report attributes this steep decline almost entirely to a massive expansion in Chinese solar manufacturing, which has made panels affordable for both wealthy and developing nations.
futurism.com
· 2026-09-20
Researchers found that achieving a more uniform film-formation process during the fabrication of perovskite-based tandem solar cells improves both their performance and durability. The finding points to film uniformity as a key factor in reducing defects that typically degrade these cells over time.
nature.com
· 2026-09-09
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