Photocell prism broke the world record for solar cell efficiency

Engineers from the Australian Centre for advanced photovoltaics at the University of New South Wales reported significant progress in increasing the efficiency of solar panels. They created the design has a record efficiency of 34, 5% - about twice as many panels commercially available, and is approaching the theoretical maximum

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The record figure for panels that do not use the focusing lens (ie, such as those commonly used in the household), is achieved by means of a prism, one of the faces of which is attached solar cell. The experiment used an element of an area of ​​28 square centimeters The previous record of 24% efficiency was achieved on a much larger area for the light detector (800 square centimeters). These were confirmed by independent experts from the US Renewable Energy Laboratory (USNREL).



Material transparent prism splits the incoming light into four wavelength band, each of which is efficiently converted into electricity. The material has a high transparency, a prism shape allows to keep caught in her light, minimizing energy leakage.



Unfortunately, the use of such cells on rooftops is far more: the laboratory sample, employee performance is proof of the concept, has managed in $ 3000. For experimental technology is a little, but will take time until the engineers have developed a process for industrial production of components at an affordable cost.

One of the project engineers, Kivers Mark [Mark Keevers], says that the commercial use of new technology can be found in ten years. The developers have promised to improve the performance of their design, increasing efficiency and reducing costs.

Source: geektimes.ru/post/276060/