With an elevation of 1000 m above sea level, once the coastal mountain range is crossed, the Atacama Desert receives the highest levels of solar radiation in the world. Global horizontal irradiations over 2500 kWh/(m² year) and a cloudiness index below 3% were determined. However, this index rises to 45% in the coastal area, where the influence of the Pacific Ocean exists with a large presence of marine aerosols. It is on the coastal area that residential photovoltaic (PV) applications are concentrated. This work presents a study of the soiling impact on PV modules at the coastline of Atacama Desert. The current–voltage characteristics of two multicrystalline PV modules exposed to outdoor conditions were compared, while one of them was cleaned daily. Asymptotic behavior was observed in the accumulated surface dust density, over 6 months. This behavior was explained by the fact that as the glass became soiled, the probability of glass-to-particle interaction decreased in favor of a more likely particle-to-particle interaction. The surface dust density was at most 0.17 mg·cm⁻² per month. Dust on the module led to current losses in the range of 19% after four months, which in turn produced a reduction of 13.5%_rel in efficiency.

Magnetic fields in biological systems is a promising research field; however, their application for microalgae has not been fully exploited. This work aims to measure the enzymatic activity and non-enzymatic activity of two microalgae species in terms of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and carotenoids, respectively, in response to static magnetic fields-induced stress. Two magnet configurations (north and south) and two exposure modes (continuous and pulse) were applied. Two microalgae species were considered, the Scenedesmus obliquus and Nannochloropsis gaditana. The SOD activity increased by up to 60% in S. obliquus under continuous exposure. This trend was also found for CAT in the continuous mode. Conversely, under the pulse mode, its response was hampered as the SOD and CAT were reduced. For N. gaditana, SOD increased by up to 62% with the south configuration under continuous exposure. In terms of CAT, there was a higher activity of up to 19%. Under the pulsed exposure, SOD activity was up to 115%. The CAT in this microalga was increased by up to 29%. For N. gaditana, a significant increase of over 40% in violaxanthin production was obtained compared to the control, when the microalgae were exposed to SMF as a pulse. Depending on the exposure mode and species, this methodology can be used to produce oxidative stress and obtain an inhibitory or enhanced response in addition to the significant increase in the production of antioxidant pigments.

Thermochemical storage of solar energy consists in reversible chemical reactions that absorb the solar heat during an endothermic step and release it by means of an exothermic reaction. CuO/Cu2O and Co3O4/CoO redox pairs have a high potential as materials to store solar energy at high temperature. Cobalt oxides have been so far studied by several authors and works while copper oxides suitability has been recently proved. However, in both cases, operation parameters need to be optimized. A theoretical study of the effect of total pressure, gas/solid molar rate and composition of working atmosphere on the systems equilibrium is presented. The equilibrium displacement caused by these parameters is calculated and discussed. Finally, some ideas for tentative implementations of these systems are commented.

Moisture plays a critical role in the degradation process of photovoltaic (PV) modules in field conditions. A commonly used approach is to evaluate the properties of PV materials by conducting tests in climatic chambers, and then apply the Fickian diffusion model in simulations to replicate field conditions, however, without experimental verification. This study describes an experimental setup for in situ measurement of moisture in fielded minimodules, using miniature temperature and humidity sensors encapsulated within the modules. Five identical setups are deployed in different climatic regions around the world, enabling a quantitative evaluation of moisture diffusion in the field and a comparison of different climates. The relative humidity measured beside the cell follow weekly weather trends due to breathable backsheet, whereas the sensors in front of the cell react much slower to outside changes and follow seasonal trends. We show that a single 2-D simulation, which is a standard practice in published studies, is insufficient to accurately depict moisture diffusion in front of the cell. Therefore, a two-stage 2-D simulation model, combining Fickian diffusion in vertical and horizontal cross section with carefully set boundary conditions, was introduced. A comparison with measurement results showed the simulation approach to be a good compromise between the simulation accuracy and speed. Finally, the results underscore the significance of understanding the local microclimate surrounding the modules, including the interface between air and backsheet, which is necessary for precise moisture diffusion simulations.

Hydrogen has emerged as a promising energy carrier, offering a viable solution to meet our current global energy demands. Solar energy is recognised as a primary source of renewable power, capable of producing hydrogen using solar cells. The pursuit of efficient, durable, and cost-effective photocatalysts is essential for the advancement of solar-driven hydrogen generation. Copper slag, a by-product of copper smelting and refining processes, primarily consists of metal oxides such as hematite, silica, and alumina. This composition makes it an attractive secondary resource for use as a photocatalyst, thereby diverting copper slag from landfills and generating 0.113 μmol/g h of hydrogen, as noted by Montoya. This review aims to thoroughly examine copper slag as a photocatalytic material, exploring its chemical, physical, photocatalytic, and electrochemical properties. Additionally, it evaluates its suitability for water treatment and its potential as an emerging material for large-scale solar hydrogen production.