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A team of researchers at the University of New South Wales in Australia have set a new record for solar cell efficiency. A new multi-cell combination can convert 43 percent of sunlight to electricity, beating the previous record of 42.7 percent. While it's not a huge leap ahead, it does get us closer to that pivotal 50 percent mark.
The team increased the efficiency by combining the silicon cell with others made from gallium, indium, phosphorus and arsenic. This combination allowed the capture of light at the red and near-infrared end of the spectrum, boosting the electricity output.
Don't expect to see this combination in use anytime soon though. The semiconductors used are very expensive, but at least researchers are forging ahead and maybe a new record will be hit any day now using cheaper materials.
via Discovery News
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written by Bob Wallace, August 26, 2009
Important for large installations where real estate costs come into play. Not so important for a home solar system where most roofs are much larger than the array needed to run a home.
This sort of performance is also important for space installation where the cost of putting stuff in orbit is very high.
On Earth we're most likely to see these high performance cells used with concentrating lenses or mirrors where "several suns" of light can be focused on the panel.
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written by Bob Wallace, August 26, 2009
Some months back a lot more processing came on line, in fact more than was needed, and panel prices have dropped from around $5 retail to $3. That's a 40% price drop.
When I bought my first panels in the early 1990s the going retail price was about $12 (2009 dollars). A drop from $12 to $3 is enormous.
Look for prices to continue to drop. A Chinese manufacturer has figured out how to decrease costs an additional $0.70 per watt.
The magic manufacturing cost of $1 per watt for thin film has been passed by First Solar at their Malaysia plant and their US plant is getting close to $1.
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written by Mark, August 26, 2009
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written by Golmekker, August 30, 2009
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written by Ray-ray, September 04, 2009
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written by Vladan, September 04, 2009
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written by Garrett, June 22, 2010
http://www.greencollarenvironmentalist.com
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what's the big difference from those?