Photovoltaic Research News
Visit the NREL news section for a complete list of NREL press releases and feature stories related to PV.
Dec. 18, 2023
Scientists, headed by a team from NREL, found the proliferation of springtime pollen that coated the solar panels reduced performance of the technology at every site.
Nov. 15, 2023
Seven researchers from NREL and one college professor affiliated with the U.S. Department of Energy facility are included on this year's Highly Cited Researchers list.
Oct. 25, 2023
Newly published research is the latest effort by NREL researchers to make III-V solar cells more affordable for terrestrial applications.
Oct. 24, 2023
NREL's 2023 PV Cost Benchmark Report documents the potential cost impacts of Inflation Reduction Act manufacturing tax credits, reports costs for community solar, and presents a new transparent cost model.
Oct. 24, 2023
NREL is preparing to unveil a publicly available Solar Mirror Materials Database (SMMD) database containing the results of exposure experiments on solar reflectors conducted over more than four decades.
Sept. 26, 2023
Even as fossil energy still provides most of the world’s electricity, new electricity generating capacity is dominated by renewable energy projects.
Sept. 11, 2023
Perovskite solar cells should be subjected to a combination of stress tests simultaneously to best predict how they will function outdoors, according to researchers at NREL.
Sept. 6, 2023
In the darkness of night, NREL is prototyping a new device that could cut time and costs for inspections of solar installations after potentially damaging weather.
Aug. 15, 2023
The new Renewable Energy Materials Properties Database, the development of which was led by NREL, compiles information on materials used in wind and solar power plants.
Aug. 3, 2023
The number of local zoning ordinances governing renewable energy deployment is growing in the United States, according to new research by NREL. The amount of land available to deploy renewables depends on the characteristics of the ordinances.
July 28, 2023
NREL Distinguished Researcher Dirk Jordan is interested in long-term performance of photovoltaic (PV) modules and systems, particularly how PV modules degrade over many years in the field and how this can significantly impact overall project economics.
July 26, 2023
Recent decades of research and development have produced highly sophisticated solar cells that generated more than 1,000 terawatt-hours of electrical energy globally in 2022.
July 19, 2023
Sound waves could play a part in making III-V solar cells more affordable for earth-bound applications, according to newly published research led by scientists at NREL.
July 17, 2023
A bifacial perovskite solar cell, which allows sunlight to reach both sides of the device, holds the potential to produce higher energy yields at lower overall costs, according to scientists at NREL.
June 22, 2023
NREL has awarded $2 million to fund six projects to support the Cadmium Telluride Accelerator Consortium (CTAC).
June 21, 2023
A thin layer of gold or silver helps improve the efficiency of perovskite solar cells, but researchers have found a less expensive material that will enable commercialization of the technology without exorbitant cost.
June 20, 2023
Builders began erecting edifices with massive walls of windows after World War II. The trend continues to this day, but the 1970s saw the adoption of double-pane windows to reduce energy consumption. Researchers at NREL have been working to improve windows since 1983.
May 5, 2023
An "unprecedented ramp-up of production capacity" over the next two decades is needed to provide enough solar power to completely decarbonize the global electrical system, but that goal can be achieved, according to an analysis led by researchers at NREL.
April 27, 2023
A delicate balancing act between the generation of renewable energy and the demand for that power could reduce the need for as much short-duration storage, according to a new proof-of-concept paper authored by researchers at NREL.
April 6, 2023
Global experts on solar power strongly urge a commitment to the continued growth of photovoltaic manufacturing and deployment to power the planet, arguing that lowballing projections for PV growth while waiting for a consensus on other energy pathways or the emergence of technological last-minute miracles "is no longer an option."
Feb. 21, 2023
For three decades, researchers have known that the addition of a single chemical creates better-performing solar cells. But they have not understood exactly why—until now. The answer has implications that stretch well beyond solar cells.
Feb. 9, 2023
The use of thermochromic windows in office buildings improves energy efficiency across all climate zones in the United States by modulating the temperature inside, leading to a massive savings, according to a research effort led by NREL.
Feb. 8, 2023
Annie Greenaway and Silvana Ovaitt started out as graduate student participants in the Hands-On Photovoltaic Experience (HOPE) workshop—a program designed to provide graduate students with opportunities to learn about photovoltaics from leading researchers.
Feb. 1, 2023
This week, NREL researchers Garry Rumbles and Matthew Beard were announced as fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
Jan. 31, 2023
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar District Cup Collegiate Design Competition announced today that 45 teams from 39 schools are advancing as finalists in the class of 2022–2023.
Jan. 26, 2023
An ultrathin protective coating proves sufficient to protect a perovskite solar cell from the harmful effects of space and harden it against environmental factors on Earth, according to newly published research from NREL.
