School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy

Night Time Solar Technology Can Now Deliver Power in the Dark

Researchers have made a major breakthrough in renewable energy technology by producing electricity from so-called 'night-time' solar power. The team generated electricity from heat radiated as infrared light, in the same way as the Earth cools by radiating into space at night.

Swapping Silver for Copper to Break Solar Panel Efficiency Record

SunDrive Solar received certification from the Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin that their commercially-sized silicon solar cell had achieved a 25.54% efficiency. This efficiency surpassed the previous world record of 25.26%, held by LONGi Solar, the world's leading manufacturer of mono-crystalline solar modules. Silicon is currently the dominant solar cell technology, and this technology comprised 95 per cent of all solar modules installed in 2020.

Next Generation Solar Cells Pass Strict International Tests

Light-weight, cheap and ultra-thin perovskite crystals have promised to shake-up renewable energy for some time. Research means they are ready to take the next steps towards commercialisation.

UNSW signs world-first solar energy agreement

The 15-year solar supply agreement with Maoneng is the first of its kind in Australia - bringing together a retailer, developer and corporate - and will allow UNSW to achieve its goal of carbon neutrality on energy use by 2020.

Non-toxic and cheap thin-film solar cells

'Zero-energy' buildings -- which generate as much power as they consume -- are now much closer after a team achieved the world's highest efficiency using flexible solar cells that are non-toxic and cheap to make.