Latest news with #Qcells'
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Energy firm sets world record with 'champion cell' technology: 'This result is laying the groundwork'
In an exciting leap forward for solar energy, renowned solar company Qcells has announced a groundbreaking achievement: the creation of a tandem perovskite-silicon solar cell that reached an impressive 28.6% efficiency. This new world record was independently verified by the Fraunhofer ISE CalLab, setting a new benchmark for commercially viable solar technology. Solar power has long been one of the most promising sources of clean, affordable energy, but improving its efficiency has always been a challenge. With Qcells' new tandem cell technology, more energy can be generated from each solar panel, reducing the overall number of panels needed to power a home, business, or even a whole community. This means a smaller land footprint for solar farms and a potential reduction in the cost of solar energy — making clean energy more affordable and accessible for everyone. Qcells has been working on developing a commercially viable tandem solar cell since 2016, combining two powerful technologies: a perovskite top cell and Qcells' proprietary silicon technology for the bottom cell. The perovskite captures high-energy light, while the silicon captures lower-energy light, maximizing the cell's performance. This approach improves power output per unit area, making it a game-changer for large-scale solar installations. Qcells' dedicated R&D teams in Germany and Korea have made significant strides in tandem cell technology, shifting their focus from small-area cells to full-sized, scalable solutions. This new tandem cell was produced on Qcells' R&D pilot line in Germany, using commercial processes that are feasible for mass production. "The champion cell is a typical cell from our R&D pilot line in Germany and has been fabricated by exclusively using processes that are feasible for mass production," Robert Bauer, Head of Qcells R&D in Germany, explained. If you were to install home solar panels, which of these factors would be your primary motivation? Energy independence Lower power bills Helping the planet No chance I ever go solar Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. He added that this breakthrough "is laying the groundwork for future commercialization of this exciting technology." According to Danielle Merfeld, Global CTO at Qcells, the tandem cell technology will "ultimately, deliver a great leap forward in photovoltaic performance." This new tandem solar technology has the potential to lower the cost of solar energy, reduce reliance on dirty fuels, and help cities and companies meet their clean energy goals faster. If successful at scale, it could be a key driver in making solar energy a more widespread and cost-effective solution for powering homes, businesses, and public infrastructure. While there's no specific timeline yet for when this technology will be available to consumers, Qcells' commitment to ongoing R&D investments and partnerships with government and industry leaders signals that the future of solar energy is looking brighter than ever. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ContourGlobal acquires 446MWp solar PV portfolio in US
British power generation company ContourGlobal has acquired a 446MWp solar photovoltaic (PV) portfolio in the US, expanding its renewable energy footprint. The portfolio, acquired from Qcells, includes two solar PV plants in Colorado and Virginia, boosting ContourGlobal's planned US solar PV and BESS capacity to nearly 1.5GW. This adds to over 1GW of recently acquired projects in South Carolina and Arizona, currently in late development. The Colorado assets, totalling 324MWp, are already under construction, while the Virginia project, with a capacity of 122MWp, is slated to begin construction in 2026. This acquisition extends ContourGlobal's renewable operations within the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) and Pennsylvania-New Jersey–Maryland (PJM) interconnection markets. This expansion offers regional diversification and tapping into areas with increasing demand for electricity, alongside thermal capacity retirements and carbon emission reduction targets. The Colorado projects will supply electricity to Platte River Power Authority under a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA). The first phase, a 185MWp plant, is expected to commence operations in the first half of 2025, with a 22-year PPA in place. The second phase will add 139MWp of capacity by 2026. The Virginia project, expected to start operations in 2027, will benefit from a 20-year PPA with an investment-grade investor-owned utility. These plants are projected to produce over 845GWh annually, enough to power approximately 80,000 American households each year. ContourGlobal CEO Antonio Cammisecra said: 'This transaction allows us to maintain momentum in our U.S. renewable growth, nearing 1.2GW of solar PV capacity complemented with additional 0.3 GW of BESS capacity, in construction or late development. 'It also meaningfully accelerates the start of our commercial operations to the first half of this year. We are proud of this milestone and delighted that our partnership with Qcells will also enable us to integrate their US-produced solar technology into these acquired projects.' Qcells will oversee the construction of the projects, which will utilise solar panels manufactured at their facilities in Georgia. Qcells has one of the largest solar panel production capacities in the western hemisphere, which is expected to increase to 8.4GW, the company says. CRC-IB served as the exclusive buy-side advisor to ContourGlobal, while Marathon Capital was the exclusive financial advisor to Qcells for this deal. Qcells GES president IP Kimsaid: 'We are proud to support ContourGlobal's US expansion. This transaction showcases Qcells' differentiated capabilities as a 'total energy solutions provider' to bring projects from development into operations. We are excited to explore other opportunities where Qcells' full suite of capabilities can deliver value to partners like ContourGlobal.' "ContourGlobal acquires 446MWp solar PV portfolio in US" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
