PV News
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory Photovoltaic (PV) Research Program highlights latest research and news accomplishments from the laboratory on this page.
September 5, 2008
NREL’s Optical Furnace Technology Sparks Industry Interest
Two startup companies are using NREL's optical furnace technology to advance solar cell manufacturing processes.
August 13, 2008
NREL Solar Cell Sets World Efficiency Record at 40.8 Percent
Scientists at NREL have set a world record in solar cell efficiency with a photovoltaic device that converts 40.8 percent of the light that hits it into electricity. This is the highest confirmed efficiency of any photovoltaic device to date.
July 17, 2008
NREL Solar Research Gains Two R&D 100 Awards
An ultra-light, highly efficient solar cell and use of ink-jet printing to manufacture thin-film photovoltaics – both developed at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory – have been named among this year’s most significant innovations by Research and Development Magazine.
July 14, 2008
NREL and Optony Collaborate on Developing Cost-Competitive Approach for Solar Electricity
NREL and its partner Optony are working together on a revolutionary concentrating solar power system.
July 2, 2008
NREL Recognized for Work on Denver Federal Center's Solar Park
Otto VanGeet, of NREL's Strategic Energy Analysis and Applications Center, was recognized for his technical support to the General Services Administration (GSA) Rocky Mountain Region at the official dedication of the Denver Federal Center's (DFC) $6.9 million solar park on June 26.
June 11, 2008
DOE to Identify Western Transmission Needs for Renewable Energy
DOE announced last week that it will work with the Western Governors' Association (WGA) to identify areas in the West with substantial renewable energy resources and to expedite the development and delivery of that energy to meet regional energy needs.
May 2, 2008
NREL Commercialization Project Accelerates PV Technology Innovation
NREL's R&D collaboration with Ampulse, a venture-backed company, is taking photovoltaic cell technology one step further with a new innovative approach using silicon film.
May 1, 2008
NREL Releases Updated Typical Meteorological Year Data Set
The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) today released an updated typical meteorological year (TMY) data set derived from the 1991-2005 National Solar Radiation Data Base update. The TMY3 data and user’s manual are available at http://rredc.nrel.gov/solar/old_data/nsrdb/1991-2005/tmy3.
April 21, 2008
Center to Research New Ways to Convert Sunshine to Power and Fuels
The newest research center of the Colorado Renewable Energy Collaboratory aims to find ways to directly convert the sun's energy to low-cost electricity and fuels. The Center for Revolutionary Solar Photoconversion (CRSP), announced today by Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar and the Collaboratory at the Capitol, will be dedicated to basic and applied research at the Collaboratory's four member institutions.
April 14, 2008
DOE Research Facility Receives Lab of the Year Award
One of the nation’s most energy efficient and environmentally friendly buildings recently was recognized as one of the best laboratory facilities built in the U.S. in 2007. In the 42nd Laboratory of the Year competition, the Science and Technology Facility at NREL was one of only two laboratories recognized as trendsetters in laboratory design.
April 10, 2008
Senior Research Fellow Wins Major International Science Award
Senior Research Fellow Arthur J. Nozik has won the 2008 Eni Award, a prestigious international honor that has several Nobel Prize winners among its recipients.
March 24, 2008
Record Makes Thin-Film Solar Cell Competitive with Silicon Efficiency
Researchers have moved closer to creating a thin-film solar cell that can compete with the efficiency of the more common silicon-based solar cell. The copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) thin-film solar cell recently reached 19.9 percent efficiency, setting a new world record for this type of cell.
