Category: News & Blog
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New research finds perovskite solar cells are resilient to dust, cutting manufacturing costs
Perovskite solar cells are much more tolerant to dust contamination in the manufacturing process than we assumed. This is good news for local manufacturing in low- and middle-income countries, because it suggests that perovskites can be fabricated under less controlled, and therefore less expensive, environments. These findings are from a new paper by Kathryn Lacey…
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Assessing Inclusivity in the Solar Value Chain
Introducing two new TEA@SUNRISE reports: Barriers to Inclusivity in the Solar Value Chain and Opportunities for Inclusivity in the Solar Value Chain. Together, they examine current obstacles to inclusivity and highlight ways to make the solar value chain (SVC) more equitable. TEA@SUNRISE envisions a just energy transition through next-generation solar. The “just energy transition”, a…
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African Solar Energy for African Communities: Q&A with Dr Francis Otieno
Welcome to Dr Francis Otieno, who is our guest for our seventh TEA Break episode. Francis is a physicist and lecturer at Maseno University, whose background growing up with unreliable electricity in Kisumu (Kenya) ignited a passion for next-generation solar. Chantal Bideleux, Project Officer for TEA@SUNRISE and REACH-PSM, talks to Francis about his personal journey,…
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New UK-Africa Partnership on All-Perovskite Tandem Solar for Energy Access
A new UK-Africa partnership will develop affordable, all-perovskite tandem solar cells for Africa. The SOLACE (Solar Alliance on Clean Energy) project unites experts in the UK, Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania to co-develop these next-generation solar technologies alongside the necessary training and knowledge exchange. Access to affordable, reliable and clean energy remains a major challenge across…
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Africa’s First Next-Generation Solar Module: Part 1 – Knowledge Exchange
The African Centre of Excellence in Future Energies and Electrochemical Systems (ACE-FUELS) at FUTO Nigeria is planning to make the first next-generation solar module manufactured in Africa. Last summer, PhD student John Anyanwu visited the solar labs at Swansea University to take part in some essential training and knowledge exchange in the art of making…
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Sustainable Solar Futures: A Report on Policy Pathways for Energy Access
How sustainable is solar energy? Our new report evaluates the sustainability of both current and emerging solar technologies across three pillars: environmental, social, and economic. It also proposes key policy actions for ensuring a sustainable, resilient, and just solar transition.
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Symposium on Accelerating A Just Energy Transition Through Next-Generation Solar
We’re feeling thoroughly motivated and inspired after the success of our January symposium on next-generation solar. Over the course of 5 days in Kuala Lumpur, we assembled members of our global network to discuss this year’s topic: ‘Strategies for Accelerating a Just Energy Transition Through the Adoption of Next-Generation Solar.’
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User-Centric Energy Access in Kenya: Q&A with Anne Wacera Wambugu
Introducing Anne Wacera Wambugu, our guest for our sixth TEA Breaks episode. Anne tells us about her personal journey to working in electricity access, her company Sunsafe, and what needs to change to retain women in engineering roles. She also argues that we must win more people over to solar by showing how it benefits…
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What Did the Next-Generation Solar Scientists Ever Do For Us?
A spotlight on how processing and material advances from next-generation solar apply to other sectors By Dr Mark Spratt Arguably the most promising next-generation solar technology is the perovskite solar cell or module. This technology has the potential to exceed the efficiency of silicon modules on its own, and to greatly exceed it when paired…
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Empowering Local Solar Businesses: Q&A with Joseph Fernandez of SOLAGEO
Joseph Fernandez, CEO and founder of SOLAGEO, joins us for the latest TEA Break. He talks about SOLAGEO’s work to empower small, local solar companies in low- and middle-income countries, and how the company ensures inclusive business practices that meet the needs of their customers. ‘TEA Breaks’ is a series where we chat to our…