Perovskite-silicon solar cell hits 34% efficiency, record-level voltage

us.headtopics.com Sep 21, 2026

Perovskite-silicon solar cell hits 34% efficiency, record-level voltage

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Sep 21, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Researchers at Soochow University and LONGi Central R&D Institute achieved a record 2.014 V open‑circuit voltage and 34.0 % laboratory efficiency in a perovskite‑silicon tandem solar cell. The breakthrough stems from an ultra‑thin scaffold of monoclinic zirconia nanoparticles placed between the conductive oxide and a molecular monolayer, which smooths the perovskite layer, suppresses non‑radiative recombination, and preserves efficient hole extraction. The device maintained 84 % of its initial efficiency after 2,000 hours of continuous simulated sunlight, demonstrating both high performance and durability.

💡 Why It Matters

· This advance shows that nanoscale interface engineering can overcome long‑standing barriers in tandem photovoltaics, bringing commercial viability closer for high‑efficiency solar panels.

Capsules Energy

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Canada Haunts Trump With New Offshore Wind Project

Canada’s Nova Scotia province has announced plans for a 5‑gigawatt offshore wind project, Wind West, which would generate 24 terawatt‑hours annually—double the province’s current peak demand. The initiative, part of a broader Eastern Energy Partnership, aims to tap the region’s 9‑11 m/s wind speeds and could supply up to a quarter of Canada’s electricity needs. The project has attracted U.S. interest, with Massachusetts and Nova Scotia officials signing a memorandum to share clean energy and create jobs across the North Atlantic.

💡 The venture positions Canada as a major clean‑energy exporter to the U.S., reshaping regional power dynamics and offering a high‑capacity, low‑emission alternative to fossil fuels.

batteriesnews.com · Sep 19

Mitsui Kinzoku Partners with Factorial to Scale All-Solid-State Battery Manufacturing

Mitsui Kinzoku Company, a leading producer of sulfide‑based solid electrolytes and ultra‑thin copper foil, has signed a joint development agreement with Factorial Energy Inc. to industrialize Factorial’s Solstice™ all‑solid‑state battery platform. The partnership leverages Mitsui Kinzoku’s A‑SOLiD™ electrolyte technology, which is moving toward mass production at a new plant in Saitama, Japan, and Factorial’s expertise in cell design, process development, supply‑chain qualification, line integration and manufacturing validation. Both firms aim to accelerate the scale‑up of next‑generation batteries that could power an electrified society. The collaboration positions Solstice™ at the forefront of the global push to commercialize all‑solid‑state batteries, combining materials science depth with advanced battery engineering.

💡 By uniting rare electrolyte expertise with end‑to‑end battery development, the alliance could fast‑track the first large‑scale deployment of solid‑state batteries, a technology long touted for higher energy density and safety.

nationthailand.com · Sep 19

Mitsubishi highlights its GTCC technology for power generation in Thailand

At Gastech 2026, Mitsubishi Power Asia’s Managing Director and CEO Akihiro Ondo showcased the company’s GTCC (Gas Turbine Combined Cycle) technology, emphasizing its role in delivering stable power with reduced emissions for Thailand. Ondo urged the Thai government to engage stakeholders to address energy supply gaps. The presentation highlighted GTCC’s efficiency and environmental benefits, positioning Mitsubishi as a key player in Thailand’s renewable energy transition. The event underscored the country’s growing focus on sustainable power solutions amid rising demand and climate commitments.

💡 The push for GTCC technology signals a strategic shift toward cleaner, more reliable energy infrastructure, directly influencing Thailand’s ability to meet its growing electricity needs while reducing carbon footprints.

cleantechnica.com · Sep 18

Driven to Serve: How Taylor Searcy Turned Navy Service into Clean Energy…

Taylor Searcy, a former Surface Warfare Officer on the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Lassen, now serves as Clean Energy Strategy Lead at General Motors. His Navy experience, where he managed navigation and safety for a $1 billion vessel and 300 sailors, informs his current role in designing reliable, cost‑effective energy solutions for GM’s plants, design centers, and offices. Searcy’s early port visits to Timor‑Leste and Fiji highlighted the critical link between dependable power and community well‑being, shaping his focus on sustainable maritime and automotive energy systems.

💡 By applying naval operational rigor to corporate energy planning, Searcy bridges military precision with industrial sustainability, demonstrating how disciplined contingency planning can drive resilient, low‑carbon infrastructure in the automotive sector.

energy-storage.news · Sep 18

BESS Industry Buzz: Energy Storage Summit Germany takeaways

The Energy Storage Summit in Berlin highlighted flexible connection agreements (FCAs) as a central theme, with most new BESS projects encountering restrictions. Inertia services were praised as a promising opportunity amid tightening business conditions. Delegates expressed disappointment over Germany’s upcoming capacity market, citing limited access for storage and stringent de‑rating rules. The EPC‑wrap model emerged as the preferred deployment approach, while EU plans to broaden bans on Chinese inverters could reshape the market for European PCS manufacturers.

💡 The tightening of FCAs and capacity market rules could delay or increase costs for new storage projects, reshaping investment timelines. A broader ban on Chinese inverters may accelerate local manufacturing, altering supply chains and competitive dynamics in the EU energy‑storage sector.

cleantechnica.com · Sep 18

NLR Campus To Host US Department of Energy Geothermal Center of Excellence

On Sept. 3, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office announced the creation of a Geothermal Center of Excellence on the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) campus in Golden, Colorado. The center, led by NLR and supported by the National Energy Technology Laboratory, will coordinate research across ten national labs—including Argonne, Brookhaven, Idaho, Los Alamos, Lawrence Berkeley, Lawrence Livermore, Oak Ridge, Pacific Northwest, and Sandia—to tackle high‑impact technical barriers in geothermal energy. An industry advisory board will guide research priorities and foster partnerships with companies such as Ormat Technologies and Fervo Energy. DOE officials highlighted the center’s role as a national hub to accelerate deployment of reliable, baseload geothermal power and strengthen U.S. energy independence.

💡 By consolidating lab expertise and industry input in one hub, the center can fast‑track solutions that turn untapped geothermal resources into immediate, round‑the‑clock electricity, moving the U.S. closer to a resilient, low‑carbon grid.