Crystalline silicon solar cells efficiency

A study* published in Nature Energy highlights a new record efficiency that was set for large-area crystalline silicon solar cells: a team of researchers produced a cell that was tested to be 26.3% efficient, an increase of 0.7% over the previous record holder. They plan to continue to aim for the theoretical limit of 29.1%. The cell was made of a crystalline silicon disk that was thinner than standard cells. This breakthrough shows that solar cell technology continues to develop and may rival energy produced by fossil fuels. This confirms a recommendation that was made in the IIR 34th Informatory Note on solar cooling, stating that solar cooling is ready to compete with the conventional cooling equipment.

 

* Ribeyron J.-P. “Crystalline silicon solar cells: Better than ever”. Nature Energy (2017): article number: 17067.

DOI: https://doi.org//10.1038/nenergy.2017.67. See also http://bit.ly/Techxplore-NL71.