Solar Energy
Role of barrier films in maintaining the stability of perovskite solar cells

Role of barrier films in maintaining the stability of perovskite solar cells
by Riko Seibo
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Jan 31, 2025
Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) offer a promising advancement in renewable energy due to their high efficiency, lightweight, and flexible properties. However, their commercial viability is challenged by their vulnerability to environmental conditions, particularly heat and humidity.
To tackle this issue, a research team led by Professor Takashi Minemoto, a Fellow at the Ritsumeikan Advanced Research Academy, alongside Dr. Abdurashid Mavlonov from Ritsumeikan University’s Research Organization of Science and Technology and Dr. Akinobu Hayakawa from Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd., conducted an in-depth study on the durability of PSC modules under harsh environmental conditions. Their research, published in Volume 286 of *Solar Energy* on January 15, 2025, was first made available online on December 17, 2024.
Discussing the study’s motivation, Prof. Minemoto stated, “Perovskite solar cells stand out as particularly promising due to their low-temperature wet-coating process and compatibility with flexible substrates, offering unique opportunities for the solar industry. However, the stability of perovskite is weak compared with conventional material, which can be improved by fabrication processes such as encapsulation with barrier films.”
For this research, the team analyzed the durability of flexible PSC modules made from methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3) and encapsulated them using polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates with barrier films of varying water vapor transmission rates (WVTR). These modules were subjected to a damp heat test at 85 C and 85% relative humidity to replicate long-term outdoor conditions.
After 2,000 hours of exposure, researchers measured photovoltaic (PV) performance and assessed module degradation using current-voltage characteristics, spectral reflectance, and electroluminescence imaging. The findings confirmed that high humidity caused the MAPbI3 layer to break down into lead iodide, obstructing charge transport and significantly reducing the efficiency of the PSC modules.
Moreover, the study demonstrated the critical role of barrier films in maintaining module stability. Notably, the module with the lowest WVTR barrier retained 84% of its initial power conversion efficiency, whereas modules with higher WVTR deteriorated rapidly, ceasing to function after just 1,000 hours.
“Our study is the first to report the durability of encapsulated flexible MAPbI3-based PSC modules. When considering solar energy applications for walls and rooftops with weight limits or for mobile platforms, flexible PSCs are a great alternative to the traditional silicon panels. Insights from our study could help industries optimize these modules for highly stable and durable constructs,” explained Prof. Minemoto.
This research underscores the essential role of barrier films in ensuring the long-term viability of flexible PSC modules, which could reshape the photovoltaic industry. By enabling energy generation in a variety of locations, these advancements help alleviate pressure on power grids. Additionally, enhancing the durability of PSCs expands their usability across different environments, further accelerating the global transition to cleaner and more sustainable energy solutions.
Research Report:Perovskite solar cell modules: Understanding the device degradation via damp heat testing
Related Links
Ritsumeikan University
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Solar Energy
Machine Learning Enhances Solar Power Forecast Accuracy

Machine Learning Enhances Solar Power Forecast Accuracy
by Simon Mansfield
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Feb 18, 2025
As solar power becomes a more significant component of the global energy grid, improving the accuracy of photovoltaic (PV) generation forecasts is crucial for balancing supply and demand. A recent study published in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences examines how machine learning and statistical techniques can enhance these predictions by refining errors in weather models.
Since PV forecasting depends heavily on weather predictions, inaccuracies in meteorological models can impact power output estimates. Researchers from the Institute of Statistics at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology investigated ways to improve forecast precision through post-processing techniques. Their study evaluated three methods: adjusting weather forecasts before inputting them into PV models, refining solar power predictions after processing, and leveraging machine learning to predict solar power directly from weather data.
“Weather forecasts aren’t perfect, and those errors get carried into solar power predictions,” explained Nina Horat, lead author of the study. “By tweaking the forecasts at different stages, we can significantly improve how well we predict solar energy production.”
The study found that applying post-processing techniques to power predictions, rather than weather forecasts, yielded the most significant improvements. While machine learning models generally outperformed conventional statistical methods, their advantage was marginal in this case, likely due to the constraints of the available input data. Researchers also highlighted the importance of including time-of-day information in models to enhance forecast accuracy.
“One of our biggest takeaways was just how important the time of day is,” said Sebastian Lerch, corresponding author of the study. “We saw major improvements when we trained separate models for each hour of the day or fed time directly into the algorithms.”
A particularly promising approach involves bypassing traditional PV models altogether by using machine learning algorithms to predict solar power directly from weather data. This technique eliminates the need for detailed knowledge of a solar plant’s configuration, relying instead on historical weather and performance data for training.
The findings pave the way for further advancements in machine learning-based forecasting, including the integration of additional weather variables and the application of these methods across multiple solar installations. As renewable energy adoption accelerates, improving solar power forecasting will be key to maintaining grid stability and efficiency.
Research Report:Improving Model Chain Approaches for Probabilistic Solar Energy Forecasting through Post-processing and Machine Learning
Related Links
Institute of Atmosphere at CAS
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Solar Energy
The next-generation solar cell is fully recyclable

The next-generation solar cell is fully recyclable
by Robert Schreiber
Berlin, Germany (SPX) Feb 18, 2025
Researchers at Linkoping University have developed a groundbreaking method for recycling all components of a perovskite solar cell without the use of hazardous solvents. The process ensures that recycled solar cells maintain the same efficiency as newly manufactured ones, marking a significant step toward sustainable solar technology. The primary solvent used in this method is water, offering an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional recycling processes.
With the anticipated surge in electricity demand due to the expansion of artificial intelligence and the electrification of transportation, sustainable energy sources must advance to prevent further environmental impact. Solar power has long been considered a viable renewable energy source, with silicon-based panels dominating the market for over three decades. However, as first-generation silicon panels reach the end of their lifespan, waste management poses a major challenge.
“There is currently no effective technology to handle the waste from silicon solar panels. As a result, outdated panels are being discarded in landfills, leading to vast amounts of electronic waste,” explained Xun Xiao, postdoctoral researcher at Linkoping University’s Department of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (IFM).
Feng Gao, a professor of optoelectronics at the same department, emphasized the importance of considering recyclability in emerging solar technologies: “If we don’t have a recycling solution in place, perhaps we shouldn’t introduce new solar cell technologies to the market.”
Perovskite solar cells are among the most promising alternatives for next-generation solar technology. These cells are lightweight, flexible, and transparent, making them suitable for various surfaces, including windows. Additionally, they achieve energy conversion efficiencies of up to 25 percent, rivaling silicon-based solar cells.
“Many companies are eager to commercialize perovskite solar cells, but we must ensure that they do not contribute to landfill waste. Our project introduces a method where all components of perovskite solar cells can be reused without sacrificing performance,” said Niansheng Xu, postdoctoral researcher at Linkoping University.
Although perovskite solar cells have a shorter lifespan than their silicon counterparts, it is crucial to develop an efficient and environmentally friendly recycling process. Additionally, these cells contain a small amount of lead, essential for high efficiency but requiring proper handling to prevent environmental contamination. In many parts of the world, manufacturers are legally obligated to recycle end-of-life solar cells sustainably.
Existing recycling methods for perovskite solar cells often rely on dimethylformamide, a toxic and potentially carcinogenic solvent commonly found in paint removers. The Linkoping researchers have devised an innovative approach that replaces this hazardous chemical with water, significantly reducing environmental risks. This method enables the recovery of high-quality perovskite materials from the water-based solution.
“We can recover every component-the glass covers, electrodes, perovskite layers, and charge transport layers,” Xiao added.
The next phase of research will focus on scaling up this process for industrial applications. In the long term, scientists believe that perovskite solar cells will become a key component of the global energy transition, particularly as supporting infrastructure and supply chains evolve.
Research Report:Aqueous based recycling of perovskite photovoltaics
Related Links
Linkoping University
All About Solar Energy at SolarDaily.com
Solar Energy
China to further shrink renewables subsidies in market reform push

China to further shrink renewables subsidies in market reform push
by AFP Staff Writers
Shanghai (AFP) Feb 9, 2025
China’s top economic planner said on Sunday it would reduce some renewable energy subsidies in reforms intended to open the booming sector to market forces.
China has sought to scale back government support for renewable energy companies in recent years as the sector reaches critical mass.
It installed a record amount of renewable energy last year and has already surpassed a target to have at least 1,200 gigawatts of solar and wind capacity installed by 2030.
New clean energy projects completed after June 1 must sell electricity at rates determined by the market rather than at preferential rates previously used to support China’s energy transition, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said in a statement.
The NDRC urged energy producers to “push forward clean energy’s participation in market transactions”.
The commission also said it “encourages electricity providers and electricity buyers to sign multi-year purchase agreements and pre-emptively manage market risks”.
Beijing invested more than $50 billion in new solar supply capacity from 2011 to 2022, according to the International Energy Agency.
It has built almost twice as much wind and solar capacity as every other country combined, according to research published last year.
However, China’s grid is struggling to keep up.
Renewable supply is increasingly being blocked to prevent the grid from becoming overwhelmed, a process known as curtailment.
Beijing has rolled out a series of measures over the past decade aimed at weaning renewable energy providers off state financial support.
It ended subsidies for new solar power stations and onshore wind power projects in 2021.
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