Solar Cell Reaches New Efficiency Level
Sharp Corporation has long enjoyed a reputation of being at the forefront of solar cell and solar panel development.
In an announcement from Osaka on October 22, 2009, Sharp has reached a new conversion efficiency level of an incredible 35.
8%.
This was achieved with the use of what they call a "triple junction compound solar cell".
Unlike silicon, which is the base of almost all solar cells today, Sharp has used layers of Indium, Gallenide and Arsenide to reach this new record high conversion rate.
What this means in real world terms is this.
In a full sun situation, we accept that 1,000 watts of solar energy lands on earth on every square meter.
This new efficiency level of 35.
8% means that 358 watts of power can now be extracted from a one square meter of panel area.
This compares with the best silicon based panels which will produce between 140 and 160 watts of energy from the same area.
We are not able to buy these panels from our friendly neighbourhood solar dealer just yet, as this technology is more typically used in satellites.
However, a California based company, Nano Solar is using a somewhat similar technology and is printing solar cells with a selenium, indium, gallenide, arsenide ink blend directly on a special aluminum backing.
It is expected that this new technology will definitely trickle down to the consumer - hopefully sooner than later - at a lower cost and greater efficiency than what is currently available.
There is no reason to believe that this excellent 35.
8% conversion will be the limit of efficiency.
Testing with these relatively new photo absorption techniques is still somewhat in its' infancy, and it is hoped that other solar cell manufacturers will investigate this lower cost option in the very near future.
In the mean time, those of us who wish to get our own solar systems operating are still limited to the current crop of silicon based cells.
As it will quite possibly be several years before the new cells become widely available, our only current option is to use what is at hand today.
In an announcement from Osaka on October 22, 2009, Sharp has reached a new conversion efficiency level of an incredible 35.
8%.
This was achieved with the use of what they call a "triple junction compound solar cell".
Unlike silicon, which is the base of almost all solar cells today, Sharp has used layers of Indium, Gallenide and Arsenide to reach this new record high conversion rate.
What this means in real world terms is this.
In a full sun situation, we accept that 1,000 watts of solar energy lands on earth on every square meter.
This new efficiency level of 35.
8% means that 358 watts of power can now be extracted from a one square meter of panel area.
This compares with the best silicon based panels which will produce between 140 and 160 watts of energy from the same area.
We are not able to buy these panels from our friendly neighbourhood solar dealer just yet, as this technology is more typically used in satellites.
However, a California based company, Nano Solar is using a somewhat similar technology and is printing solar cells with a selenium, indium, gallenide, arsenide ink blend directly on a special aluminum backing.
It is expected that this new technology will definitely trickle down to the consumer - hopefully sooner than later - at a lower cost and greater efficiency than what is currently available.
There is no reason to believe that this excellent 35.
8% conversion will be the limit of efficiency.
Testing with these relatively new photo absorption techniques is still somewhat in its' infancy, and it is hoped that other solar cell manufacturers will investigate this lower cost option in the very near future.
In the mean time, those of us who wish to get our own solar systems operating are still limited to the current crop of silicon based cells.
As it will quite possibly be several years before the new cells become widely available, our only current option is to use what is at hand today.
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