Preview

Solar cells

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
9259 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Solar cells
PROGRESS IN PHOTOVOLTAICS: RESEARCH AND APPLICATIONS
Prog. Photovolt: Res. Appl. (2012)
Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI: 10.1002/pip.1255

PAPER PRESENTED AT 26TH EU PVSEC, HAMBURG, GERMANY 2011

Solar cell generations over 40% efficiency
R. R. King*, D. Bhusari, D. Larrabee, X.-Q. Liu, E. Rehder, K. Edmondson, H. Cotal, R. K. Jones,
J. H. Ermer, C. M. Fetzer, D. C. Law and N. H. Karam
Spectrolab, Inc., 12500 Gladstone Ave, Sylmar, CA 91342, USA

ABSTRACT
Multijunction III-V concentrator cells of several different types have demonstrated solar conversion efficiency over 40% since
2006, and represent the only third-generation photovoltaic technology to enter commercial power generation markets so far.
The next stage of solar cell efficiency improvement, from 40% to 50%-efficient production cells, is perhaps the most important yet, since it is in this range that concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) systems can become the lowest cost option for solar electricity, competing with conventional power generation without government subsidies. The impact of 40% and 50% cell efficiency on cost-effective geographic regions for CPV systems is calculated in the continental US, Europe, and North Africa. We take a systematic look at a progression of multijunction cell architectures that will take us up to 50% efficiency, using modeling grounded in well-characterized solar cell materials systems of today’s 40% cells, discussing the theoretical, materials science, and manufacturing considerations for the most promising approaches. The effects of varying solar spectrum and current balance on energy production in 4-junction, 5-junction, and 6-junction terrestrial concentrator cells are shown to be noticeable, but are far outweighed by the increased efficiency of these advanced cell designs. Production efficiency distributions of the last five generations of terrestrial concentrator solar cells are discussed. Experimental results are shown



References: Prog. Photovolt: Res. Appl. (2012) © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Solar Junction press release, April 14, 2011, Diandra Weldon, Cell Efficiency, June 1, 2011, https://eere-exchange.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    The imminent growth of the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry is almost certain. When observing the rising costs of coal and natural gas prices, the decrease of PV system costs, and the government support of solar technology, the PV market looks to have a significant increase in volume over the next few years. According to SolarBuzz, a website dedicated to Solar Power and Energy, The solar PV industry has reached a critical tipping point, with end-market demand hitting record levels almost every quarter. This growth is being driven by leading module suppliers and project developers that returned to profitability during 2013, and which have now established highly-effective global sales and marketing networks.” (NPD Group, Inc., 2013) The article also states that “demand in Q1’14 will also achieve record-breaking status, as the strongest first-quarter ever seen by the PV industry.” (NPD Group, Inc., 2013)…

    • 854 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Chapter 18 Questions

    • 655 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Photovoltaic solar cells are a wafer or thin film of solid-state material, such as silicon or gallium arsenide, that is treated with certain metals in such a way that the film generates electricity when solar energy is absorbed. Essentially they can convert sunlight directly into electricity and are usually used by a large amount of panels that absorb sunlight even on cloudy or rainy days.…

    • 655 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    This paper is about how the plant cells and solar cells are similar to each other as well as how they are different to one another. In addition this paper explains how the laws of thermodynamics apply to each of the plant and solar cells system.…

    • 781 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    However, the disadvantages of solar energy were neglected in the early phase of development. It isn’t always as reliable as other forms of power and tends to be expensive to install and maintain, because the devices rely on a steady supply of sunlight to generate power. The equipment is not that efficient, typically converting just 10% to 18% of the sun’s energy into electricity [3]. On top of the price of panels themselves, the cost of installing them varies greatly by location and climate. By most estimates, it takes at least six years for the initial costs to be repaid in saving from power generation under the best circumstances, and double that time under less ideal conditions [3]. Besides, the batteries and safety serve as potential problems. Since it is impossible to generate solar power 24 hours a day, batteries are needed for most systems to store excess power for use at night and rainy days. Unfortunately, these batteries can be expensive and have a shorter lifespan than solar…

    • 2228 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    AstroPower Case

    • 2789 Words
    • 20 Pages

    new line of 8 inch solar cells and power modules, the largest and most powerful solar cells…

    • 2789 Words
    • 20 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    first modern solar cell

    • 277 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In 1954, the first modern silicon cells raised by Bell Labs, then it shown at the National Academic of Science meeting. Moreover, this kind of cell can make 6 percent efficiency. Then, the New York Time come up with that the cell would lead to a source of “Limitless energy of the sun”.…

    • 277 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Best Essays

    America's Energy Policy

    • 3119 Words
    • 13 Pages

    * University at Buffalo. "In solar cells, tweaking the tiniest of parts yields big jump in efficiency." ScienceDaily, 20 Jan. 2012. Web. 2 May 2012.…

    • 3119 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Solar Energy Pros and Cons

    • 2001 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Hogan, Jenny. (2003, June). Solar power set for take-off: the latest technology for converting sunlight into electricity could make solar panels cheap and efficient enough to become a widespread source of domestic power. New Scientist 178(2398), 14(2).…

    • 2001 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Tardigrades

    • 3522 Words
    • 15 Pages

    We chose solar energy as our assignment because we believe that it’s still not fully exploited with an enormous potential. We wanted to examine the economical facts of solar energy, the environmental circumstances and we wanted to know more about how it works.…

    • 3522 Words
    • 15 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Why I WROTE

    • 1070 Words
    • 5 Pages

    WHY I WROTE, “RISE UP, O MEN OF GOD!” This book was the outcome of my search for understanding. Two of my brothers and I served during the Vietnam War. My brother Richard was drafted into the Army and was posted to Vietnam during the ending days of the war. He was killed in action days after he arrived.…

    • 1070 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Solar Panel

    • 1931 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Solar Panels help with the growth of the economy and its economic growth is a major factor in terms of the world energy consumption. Economic growth has fluctuated in its energy demand specifically in recent years by 1.1 percent in 2009 and growing by 4.9 percent in 2010, and then growth of 3.8 percent in 2011 and 2.8 percent in 2012. (EIA U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2013)…

    • 1931 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Best Essays

    Murphy, K. L., Mahoney, S. E., Chen, C. Y., Mendoza-Diaz, N. V. & Yang, X. (2005). A…

    • 3997 Words
    • 16 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Better Essays

    When all of our natural fossil fuels are low or gone, solar energy will be one of the leading sources of energy that we will need in the future.…

    • 1534 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Established in 1989, Tata BP Solar is a Joint Venture between Tata Power Company, a pioneer in the power sector in India and BP Solar, one of the largest solar companies in the world. The sophisticated 84 MW Solar Cell manufacturing facility is capable of processing mono and multi crystalline wafers of 125mm2 and 156mm2. Their state-of-the-art 125 MW module manufacturing facility is one of the largest in Asia and capable of manufacturing modules from 0.3Wp to 280Wp and beyond. Company’s talent pool comprises over 600 employees spread over 4 manufacturing units and 8 regional offices.…

    • 5244 Words
    • 21 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Solar Water Pump

    • 1901 Words
    • 8 Pages

    The current Polysilicon price is less than $17/kg. The focus for reducing cost per Watt peak (Wp) remains on improving technology to increase module output power as well as on the more efficient use of all materials. The learning rate ( the decrease in prices of module with every doubling of module shipments) of 21% is expected to be maintained by introducing new double and single sided contact cell concepts with improved Si-wafers, improved cell front and rear side and improved module technologies. The module output power may go up to 300Wp by 2013.…

    • 1901 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays

Related Topics