Space-based lab for testing new energy technologies
Chinese solar technology company LONGi Green Energy Technology Co has announced plans to establish a Future Energy Spacelab.
The project is intended to forge effective industry research on applications of clean energy in outer space and to create new energy-related industries, according to the company, which has a background in photovoltaic technologies.
Following the establishment of the Future Energy Spacelab, LONGi plans to test its new products and their reliability in the space environment.
At the same time the intention is to simulate the space environment on the ground to monitor changes of performance in the products and thereby develop the theoretical and experimental knowledge to promote their practical application.
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In a statement LONGi vice president Li Wenxue is quoted as saying that scientific and technological progress is the core competitiveness of China’s photovoltaic industry.
“With our efforts, we hope that space technology can help future energy development, build a modern energy system and promote the carbon neutral target of the whole world, so that science and technology can truly beautify our life and benefit all mankind.”
The statement also quotes Martin Green, Professor at the University of New South Wales in Australia, often known as the ‘father of modern photovoltaics’ for his leadership in the development of the passivated emitter and rear cell PV technology as saying: “It’s very exciting to see the establishment of LONGi Future Energy Spacelab. I wish LONGi and its partners all the best in the new journey.”
LONGi has not specified the timescale for the establishment or provided any other details of the Future Energy Spacelab.
In other developments LONGi has claimed new cell efficiency world records of 26.56% for a p-type heterojunction (HJT) cell and 26.09% for an indium-free HJT cell, the former up almost 0.5% over the previously announced September 2022 record.
