Volume 7 Issue 5, May 2022

The open-circuit voltage of CdTe solar cells is limited by energy losses across the device stack. Now, a comprehensive optical and electrical analysis reveals that the high internal voltages of state-of-the-art CdTe-based absorber layers could be translated into electrical power if charge selectivity is increased at contacts.

The renewable energy sector has the potential to contribute to the creation and growth of business ventures. A new study offers important insights on entrepreneurial opportunities and their gender dimensions with regard to entrepreneurial uses of electricity.

Redox flow batteries offer a readily scalable solution to grid-scale energy storage, but their application is generally limited to ambient temperatures above 0 °C. Now, a polyoxometalate-based chemistry has been developed to enable redox flow batteries to operate, and even thrive, under frigid conditions.

Formic acid is a promising hydrogen carrier, but more effective and economical catalysis of both its synthesis from H₂ and CO₂ and its dehydrogenation is needed. To this end, a Mn-based complex, in the presence of an α-amino acid, is now shown to promote efficient catalysis of both reactions and enable retention and reuse of CO₂.

Considering the probability of occurrence of an extreme cold event similar to that in February 2021, winterization of the Texan power system pays off for risk-neutral utilities in the medium term. Risk aversion can cause under-investment, and policymakers should therefore take into account extreme event risks in decision-making and implement measures that increase winterization efforts.

The open-circuit-voltage deficit of cadmium selenide telluride solar cells is typically higher than that of other photovoltaic technologies yet the reasons are unclear. Now, Onno et al. use photoluminescence techniques to break down the contributions of dopants and back contacts to voltage losses.

There has been continued debate on the cost and benefits of winterization of energy infrastructure in Texas, especially after 2021 power outages. Here the authors estimate the expected revenues from winterization, and its cost, and find that winterization would pay off taking into account the probability of similar outages.

Stable and high-power operation of aqueous redox flow batteries (ARFBs) is desirable for grid storage in cold climate regions. Here the authors report a heteropoly acid electrolyte with an exceptionally low freezing point and high conductivity that enables high-performance ARFBs at low temperatures.

Low effective doping of boron limits the performance of solar cells based on hydrogenated amorphous silicon. Liu et al. show that light induces the diffusion of hydrogen atoms, which activates boron doping, enabling a power conversion efficiency of over 25%.

Formic acid is a convenient hydrogen storage medium with storage release occurring via reversible hydrogenation of CO₂ and facilitated by noble metal-based catalysts. Now, reversible storage release is demonstrated using a non-noble, Mn-based catalyst in the presence of an amino acid.

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising candidates to store hydrogen for transportation, but less focus has been on their potential for storage in large-scale, stationary applications. Here Peng et al. perform techno-economic analysis and process modelling to evaluate the prospects of MOFs for back-up power.