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
  • 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
  • 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

    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
  • Good Essays

    Ge Marketing Plan

    • 424 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The GE’s Solar power plant, as one of the leading providers of renewable energy products and services, GE is committed to offering our customers best in class technology that can provide the lowest cost of electricity. GE has established itself as a global leader in the solar industry. The company took a look at the biggest barrier for adoption of solar technology cost and built its portfolio around the goal of lowest cost of electricity in the industry. GE now offers robust solutions for…

    • 424 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The ideal system for homeowner is the grid connected system in which excess power can be produced than be sold back to the industry and reduces the immediate debt of the system, making it extremely convenient and satisfying for homeowners that are skeptical of investing in any of these solar-capturing devices, because of the potential for these devices to be effective and justifiable over time, however arranging for grid interconnection can be tedious and difficult. On the other hand with standalone systems, they are proven to be more cost efficient than power lines. However, with standalone, surplus power gained would be wasted or be preserved in a battery that the system runs on, following this further, standalone systems are also dependent on a battery source to operate during the night, and in standalone systems like the Hybrid we see the need for other and more additional sources of energy like wind or diesel, that ultimately defeat the purpose to the development and use of these solar capturing devices.…

    • 366 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    First Solar

    • 2617 Words
    • 11 Pages

    Solar modules that consist of glass and cadmium telluride when combined convert sun light into electricity…

    • 2617 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    • The broad aim of this course was to provide students with the knowledge that is required to understand the design, operation and characterisation of solar cells. More specifically the course aimed to: • Develop within students a fundamental theoretical understanding of the operation of solar cells; • Expose students to a wide range of solar cell technologies, which are practised in laboratory and commercial environments; and • Develop within students an ability to use available tools and techniques to characterise solar cells.…

    • 2800 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Furthermore, renewable energy is a very niche market. It makes up only 8% of the total energy industry. SolarWorld’s practice, active solar technology, occupies just 1% of the total renewable energy due to its high cost and capital investment. This leaves a big hole for threat of substitutes such as coal, nuclear or natural gas energy, which are mostly the primary choice before renewable energy.…

    • 577 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Solar Air Conditioning

    • 9424 Words
    • 38 Pages

    To be presented at ASME International Solar Energy Conference (ISEC2006) Denver, Colorado July 8–13, 2006…

    • 9424 Words
    • 38 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
  • Powerful Essays

    © 2011 Published by by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of Solar Energyof © 2011 Published Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of the organizing committee International Conference on Materials for Advanced Technologies. Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS) – National University of Singapore (NUS).…

    • 4398 Words
    • 18 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    solar vs csp

    • 737 Words
    • 3 Pages

    On the other hand, Renewable Energy Policy Network, REN21 (2013) states that the concentrating solar thermal power (CSP) market continued to advance in 2012, with total global capacity up more than 60% to about 2,550 MW.1. The market doubled relative to 2011. The capacity of CSP is estimated to reach 1089 GW in 2050. With these accelerating future market trends Solar PV and Solar CSP compete with themselves and with other renewables most notably (wind, hydro).…

    • 737 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Solar photovoltaic power market in Japan is the largest solar power market during 2013 and is expected to continue be the world largest solar power market until 2016. The demand for solar power has accelerated after the introduction of feed in tariff, which is considered as very high, along with the shutdown of last operational nuclear power plant. This has create a huge opportunity for global supplier of photovoltaic module and cell in Japan. However domestic supplier of photovoltaic module and cell is expected to dominate the Japan solar power market mainly due to the fact that consumers of Japan prefers domestic brand. Due to huge gas in supply and demand, manufacturer of photovoltaic module and cell in Japan are also turning towards foreign manufacturer so that they can import the module and cell and then sell in Japan under their own domestic brand name.…

    • 765 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The reason behind their entry is the scarcity of existing crystalline solar cell manufacturing base material, day by day hiking cost. As we all know that the polymers and simple molecules are abundant on earths surface and are cheaper in cost, and having desirable physical properties like light weight, flexibility etc. These are initial parameters those pushed the researchers to step in and take the motive of introducing organic solar cells into semiconductor device industry. Initially silicon based solar cells were in many, but because of cost factor and their respective material properties they were moderately replaced by organic photo voltaic cells. As they are cheap, lightweight and are easy to fabricate they are in lead to crystalline organic photo voltaic cells.…

    • 4546 Words
    • 14 Pages
    Powerful Essays

Related Topics