Queensland-based GNT Engineering Pty Ltd has developed a device that will enable solar system owners & operators to limit the amount of solar power that their systems export to the […]
Category: New technologies
Solar Choice blog articles about new developments in solar power and solar photovoltaic technology.
New Perovskite material from NTU turns solar cells into display panels
If new research from Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU) holds true, a new solar cell material could one day turn your mobile or tablet display into a solar cell, letting […]
IHS: n-type silicon, other new technologies to come in 2014
A recent report published by IHS research suggests that next-generation PV technologies will enter the mainstream in 2014 now that the punishing downturn in PV manufacturing is behind us and […]
Texan start-up offers plug-in DIY solar kit for the US market
Nothing says self-reliance and (energy) independence quite like a do-it-yourself (DIY) solar system. And, as a US start-up, Plugged Solar, would like to convince you, nothing says easy DIY better […]
IMEC reaches record 8.4% cell efficiency for fullerene-free organic solar cells
Belgian research institute, Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre (IMEC), has achieved a record-breaking 8.4% efficiency for its new organic solar cell made without fullerenes, marking yet another step towards making organic solar […]
GTAT announces new bus-bar-free interconnection technology
GT Advanced Technologies (GTAT) has announced a new metallization and interconnection technology for solar modules (trademarked ‘Merlin’) that is expected to significantly slash module manufacturing and installation costs. Terming the […]
Researchers create colourful solar cells using hybrid organic-inorganic PV technology
Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a new, eye-catching transparent photovoltaic cell using a novel mixture of organic and inorganic materials, thereby bringing colourful photovoltaics one step closer […]
Khosla-backed Stion delivers 20% module efficiency with novel tandem technology
If the recent trail of new innovations is any clue, the race to find a new champion to boost the fortunes of thin film solar has never been more intense. […]
New JA Solar panels mark entry of black silicon technology
JA Solar has recently launched two new high-efficiency PV modules at the recent PV Expo in Japan: the 285W PERCIUM module and the 270W RIECIUM module. The announcement marks the […]
New pomegranate-like material boosts lithium-ion battery performance
In an interesting case of biomimicry, scientists at Stanford University and the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have designed a new electrode material for lithium-ion batteries using silicon nanoparticles clustered like […]
Germany to build world’s first modular, multi-technology battery storage system
Can’t decide on which battery technology to use for your next big energy storage project? Well, now you can use them all! A consortium consisting of researchers, an electric utility, […]
Gum-like electrolyte makes Li-ion batteries safer
An icky-sticky wad of chewing gum under your shoe is definitely annoying, but what makes gum sticky may soon keep your laptop or grid storage battery from exploding. Researchers at Washington […]
New silicone-based AR coating promises 7% higher PV energy output
Glass anti-reflection coatings have been the low-hanging fruit for improving PV module efficiencies, but reaching for it requires the right mix of low-cost approaches and smart science. Researchers at the […]
Paper and PV: Wood pulp-based material boosts organic PV efficiency
Solar cells today are made from a wide cocktail of materials, from earth-abundant materials (Silicon and Carbon) to exotic rare earth metals (Indium, Gallium, etc), and from polymers to organic […]
Solar thermophotovoltaic breakthrough from MIT: Harnessing both light and heat for electricity
A team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is developing a new approach to making solar cells. The technology, ‘solar thermovoltaics’ or SVT, would utilise not only the light […]
QBotix: Robot-controlled tracking systems for ground-mounted solar systems
QBotix is a company offering a revolutionary approach to ground-mounted solar systems through its solar tracking technology. The QBotix Robotic Tracking System (RTS) employs intelligent, self-charging, track-mounted robots (“SolBots”) which adjust […]
Eco Whisper Turbine: Australian-made, small-scale wind power
Solar Choice, as Australia’s solar photovoltaic (PV) installation brokering service, does not ordinarily work with wind turbine installers or manufacturers, but both technologies are similar in spirit and offer many […]
Solar panel cleaning made easier: Ritec ClearShield
One of the much-touted advantages of solar panels as an energy generation technology is their low maintenance requirements. Once installed, a solar panel array will continue to produce power for […]
Renusol’s CS60: An innovative approach to solar panel mounting for flat surfaces
Renusol GmbH is a leading innovator in the field of solar module mounting. The company and its US subsidiary Renusol America design and manufacture solutions for both ground-mounted and rooftop […]
RESA’s VoltLogic to be used for limiting solar export in NT demo project
Renewable Energy Systems Australia (RESA) has announced that its STATCOM/inverter, VoltLogic, will be deployed at Palmerston Golf Club in Darwin, Northern Territory in a partnership with the club, a prominent local solar installation […]
Australia’s largest tracker-equipped rooftop solar array goes online in Victoria
Steel products manufacturer Hilton Manufacturing has commissioned a one-of-a-kind project on the roof of its factory in Dandenong South, outside Melbourne, Victoria. The commercial-scale solar array is unique in Australia […]
Energy storage options are growing (Part 1): What are the benefits?
Energy storage systems are a hot topic, and conditions are ripe for the solar PV/energy storage industry set to take off globally for residential, commercial, and industrial applications. Part 1 of this […]
Supercapacitor graphene could revolutionise energy storage
It has yet to be commercialised, but graphene is a substance that promises to supercharge the field of energy storage. Graphene is a non-toxic, organic substance made purely of carbon […]
Enphase microinverters in Australia
Enphase was the world’s first microinverter manufacturer, having pioneered the technology as a solution to some of the typical problems and inefficiencies that afflict solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. Since its […]
Tigo Energy: Power Maximizers for solar PV systems
Tigo Energy provides power optimisation solutions for residential, commercial and utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) projects, allowing owners to get the most of their solar power systems. The company was formed […]
The future of residential solar battery storage solutions
The record breaking summer temperatures of early 2013 has lead many climate sceptics to question their stance on Climate Change, it also saw energy retailers faced with extreme ‘peak events’ […]
SolarEdge: Module-level DC-DC optimisers for solar PV systems
One of the trickiest parts of maximising efficiency in a solar installation is dealing with variations in power output among panels and strings of panels in the same system. SolarEdge is a company […]
Sharp develops see through solar panels
Japanese electronics manufacturer, Sharp, has developed the worlds first see-through solar panel. The solar panel generates energy using modified photovoltaic technology but, due to the unique design, light can partially pass through […]
WINAICO to launch their new 285W module in October
WINAICO, a subsidiary of WIN WIN Precision Technology, has announced the release of their new 60 cell, 285W Photovoltaic module in October 2012. Those attending All Energy in Melbourne on 10 & […]
Is Spinach the key to solar’s future?
Researchers from Vanderbilt University in Tennessee have discovered what Popeye knew all along–spinach gives you more energy. Although more traditionally associated with giving an extra energy boost to the […]
Australia’s first solar desalination plant approved
The clean energy applications of solar PV, powering everything from our homes and schools to large sports stadiums, are well-documented but less well known is thier potential to provide us […]
