The TMD solar cells on a flexible substrate achieve 5.1% power conversion efficiencies. (Image Credit: Koosha Nassiri Nazif/Stanford University)
Stanford University researchers developed new transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) that achieve 5.1% power conversion efficiencies, which could reach 27% after optical and electrical optimizations. The prototype also produced 4.4 watts per gram and realized a 100-times greater power-to-weight ratio of TMDs.
The prototype’s incredible thinness minimizes the material usage and cost while making TMD solar cells lightweight and flexible. Not only that, but it can also be shaped into a car roof, the human body, or an airplane wing. The team developed an array measuring a few hundred nanometers thick. It features a photovoltaic TMD tungsten diselenide and gold contacts spread out by an ultrathin graphene layer.
TMDs are stable and reliable in addition to their lightweight, flexible qualities. Plus, they don’t have any toxic chemicals and can be used in wearable electronics that touch human skin or tissue. However, the TMD layer can become damaged when it transfers to the flexible material. The team placed the thin graphene layer on a flexible substrate. After fully embedding the TMD, the researchers tested their devices’ flexibility by bending them around a metal cylinder less than a third of an inch thick. Overall, they discovered that their TMD is more durable than existing types.
Biden’s Build Back Better Act could provide an additional 43.5GW of solar capacity in the US. (Image Credit: mrganzo/pixabay)
Enacting Biden’s Build Back Better Act could result in 43.5 GW of increased solar capacity being installed over the baseline forecast between 2022 and 2026. According to the US Solar Market Insight report, this would bring the total solar capacity to over 300 GW, tripling the current amount. However, solar projects are expected to encounter temporary challenges while increased prices affect the utility-scale solar market. Overall, these prices saw a 12% decrease between Q1 2019 and Q4 2021. Even then, these price drops were offset by spikes over the past six months.
The report also predicts a 25% decrease in the 2022 solar forecast due to supply chain challenges. Now, new forecasts reveal a solar market growth through the Build Back Better Act’s clean energy provisions. Additionally, the Build Back Better Act promises tax credits that make rooftop solar panel installations more affordable, reducing costs by 30%.
California’s latest proposal could reduce rooftop solar costs, leading to 100% clean energy. (Image Credit: Markus Winkler/Unsplash)
California is hoping to reduce rooftop solar power costs, which would ultimately lead to the state running on 100% clean energy. This could also prevent rate spikes and encourage people to deploy batteries. Martha Guzman Aceves’ proposal would update the net energy metering program that helped the state install over 1.3 million rooftop and small-scale solar systems.
Net metering must expand to meet California’s changing energy demands. Its power grid becomes increasingly flooded during the afternoon as millions of people crank up their air conditioners to cope with extreme heat. Martha and her team created a plan to eliminate net metering that encourages solar customers to install battery systems that store clean energy after dark.
The proposal also includes initiatives for Californians to shift from gasoline to electric vehicles and natural gas furnaces and stoves to electric appliances that run on solar and wind energy. Buildings that install solar panels could then build larger systems to support lifestyles that rely on electricity.
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