Photovoltaics

The latest publications in this offer are:

• September 10, 2026

  RE257

  Atomic layer deposition for photovoltaics

  This article presents the applications of Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) in the field of photovoltaics (PV). After a brief overview of PV conversion, the main PV technologies and their challenges, the specific features of the ALD technique will be detailed, highlighting its assets for PV, such as the ability to deposit uniform, conformal thin films with atomic-scale control over thickness and film composition under mild conditions. Finally, a selection of application examples is presented to illustrate these benefits, as well as the associated challenges and limitations.

• August 10, 2026

  D3953

  A new era for tandem photovoltaic cells

  This article concerns multi-junction photovoltaic cells, which combine several semi-conductors to exploit different wavelengths of the solar spectrum, thus overcoming the limitations of single-junction solar cells.After a brief history of multi-junction architectures, the focus will be on perovskite/silicon tandem architectures and the challenges to overcome, such as interface optimization, industrialization, and long-term reliability. The main objective is to develop a very high-efficiency solar technology that is industrially and sustainably viable.Finally, thin-film tandem architecture alternatives based on perovskites will be discussed, offering flexibility, lightness, and a low energy footprint.

• August 10, 2026

  BE8578

  Photovoltaic Electricity. Principles

  The production of photovoltaic electricity, based on the conversion of sunlight, has reached its maturity thanks to continuous research and development at laboratories and industry levels since more than two decades. Photovoltaic devices and their use as power generators are presented along with theoretical explanations concerning solar energy. This article concludes with a practical question: what photovoltaic installation design will meet the needs of a family of four? Data concerning daylight hours in the region of residence must be taken into consideration.

• June 10, 2026

  D3943

  Photovoltaics — Technical, Economic, and Environmental Aspects

  Photovoltaic energy is the renewable energy source with the greatest potential and represents a unique asset in helping humanity achieve carbon neutrality. One of the major challenges facing the photovoltaic sector is demonstrating its ability to achieve electricity prices competitive with those of other carbon-based and carbon-free electricity sources. This has been the goal of industry stakeholders for nearly 50 years, ever since the technology was first developed. We will see that, thanks to the rise of silicon-based technologies, incremental innovation, and the scaling up of production, this goal has now been achieved—and even surpassed—since solar power is now the cheapest source of electricity in the world.

• May 10, 2026

  RE250

  Hybrid perovskite solar cells

  Converting solar energy into electricity using low-cost materials and processes remains challenging. The very recently emerging hybrid perovskite solar cells are based on materials with remarkable opto-electronic and structural properties. This article shows how these compounds are integrated in photovoltaic cells, and the various techniques used for their preparation are described. The various cell architectures reported in the literature are described. The other materials used in the devices are presented, and the importance of their optical and electronic properties for the efficient functioning of the devices is explained.

• May 10, 2026

  D3950

  Organic photovoltaics — Aqueous-based fabrication

  While photovoltaics have now established themselves as the leading renewable energy source accessible to the general public, the market remains dominated by silicon-based technologies. However, this market could soon be disrupted by new technologies capable of competing with inorganic solar panels. Among these, organic photovoltaics—based on polymers and small semiconductor molecules—offer competitive performance and energy return on investment at the academic level. However, scaling up to industrial production involves significant delays spanning several years, and several technological barriers are slowing the development of organic photovoltaics. Among these limitations, the fabrication of solar cells is a key issue that warrants further discussion.

• April 10, 2026

  COR2002

  Photovoltaic system reliability and durability

  This article discusses the reliability of photovoltaic systems. The first part emphasizes the importance of photovoltaic based electricity, details its operating principle, and highlights the significance of the reliability of the systems. The second and third parts present the composition of a solar power plant and the various climatic stresses that can affect the plant, focusing on the degradation modes affecting the photovoltaic modules. The last part outlines the solutions and key recommendations to mitigate reliability issues in photovoltaic plants.

• April 10, 2026

  AF6240

  From the Photovoltaic Effect to Photoelectric Solar Cells

  This article is about photovoltaic electricity. Semiconductor physics explains how the absorption of light generates electrical charges. The anatomy of the photovoltaic cell makes it possible to transform these charges into current. These cells are then assembled into modules, then into panels, which are finally integrated into a complete photovoltaic system comprising, in addition to the production part, an intermediate part for adapting the energy produced to the needs of the application, which constitutes the last part, the part where the energy is consumed.

• February 20, 2026

  IN254 Reviewed

  Agrivoltaism, a protection system for food production

  Agrivoltaic systems provide direct service to agricultural production (e.g., weather hazard protection), while co-producing solar energy. The dynamic agrivoltaic technology consists in 1-axis rotating solar panels, which positions are adapted in real time to optimize crop photosynthesis. This innovation raises new questions in the planification of the agriculture and energy transitions. This paper will raise the issues of cost, agricultural impact, and integration in a complex ecosystem which are at the heart of the regulatory debate.

• February 2, 2026

  IN703 Reviewed

  Physics-inspired machine learning - Principles and application to solar energy forecasting

  This article deals with physics-informed machine learning, which is a technique leveraging prior physical knowledge and data to describe physical processes. These hybrid models enable to accelerate numerical simulations, to be more data efficient when learning, to provide more interpretable predictions compliant with physical laws that generalize better. This article also presents an industrial application at EDF on short-term solar energy forecasting based on ground-based cameras.

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