Delta Electronics and Spectrolab (the creators of the record 40.7% efficient concentrator solar cell) have teamed up and developed an assembly for the concentrator solar cells that will deliver an overall cell efficiency of 35%!
The concentrator-type solar cells require that the incoming light be focused on a smaller surface area. The actual solar cell receiving this concentrated light operates at an elevated temperature, and so the assembly that contains the solar cell and concentrating device (lenses, mirrors, whatever that may be) must be able to withstand these higher operating temperatures over time. With this announcement, Delta Electronics is basically saying that they have developed such an assembly, and now Spectrolab will evaluate it to make sure it meets the International Electrotechnical Commission standards, before moving into production.
35% efficiency is more than double the efficiency of current solar panels that we can buy off the shelf, and the concentrator design requires less light-converting materials for the same amount of area. Eventually, this assembly should drive the cost of solar cells per watt down even further. I can't wait!
You can read the full story here.
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