Teams from solar cell research institute Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) and the university École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland have combined a silicon heterojunction solar cell with a perovskite solar cell monolithically into a tandem device and reached a record efficiency of 18%, with potential to hit 30% after further modifications.
Germany’s electricity network could cope with the addition of “huge amounts” of solar-plus-storage being added to it and in fact benefit from the storage, but policy changes might be required to enable that scenario.
Quercus Assets Selection, an investment company focusing on renewable energy, has announced plans to start two renewable energy infrastructure funds — growing its total funding portfolio to five.
Trina Solar has restructured its management, with the China-headquartered PV module manufacturer’s president for Europe and Africa Ben Hill leaving the company amid speculation over his next role.
Polysilicon producer OCI Enterprises, A North American subsidiary of South Korea-based OCI Company has sold its 73% limited partner interest in OCI Resources along with 2% general partner interest and distribution rights to Turkey-based conglomerate Ciner Enterprises for around US$430 million.
UK developer British Solar Renewables (BSR) and module supplier Vikram Solar have announced a supply agreement the two parties signed at this year’s Solar Energy UK exhibition.
France-based renewable energy company Tenergie has successfully refinanced its 54.4MW of solar assets for €150 million (US$166 million) with a bank syndicate led by Credit Agricole Group.
US residential solar installer SolarCity has said global expansion remains on its agenda despite the premature demise of its exploratory foray into the UK market via subsidiary Zep Solar.
SolarCity is looking to hire as many new employees in just one day as it does on average every month, targeting the hire of 500 workers across 10 US states.
