Concentrator Photovoltaic Technology Continues to Break New Records
World record for concentrator photovoltaic technology: mini-module comprised of four-junction solar cells reached 43.4 percent efficiency. ©Fraunhofer ISE
The highest efficiencies for the direct conversion of sunlight into electricity are reached with concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) systems, and the technology still promises room for improvement.
After announcing their world record solar cell two years ago, Fraunhofer ISE now reports that they have just achieved a new highest efficiency on the module level. A mini-module comprised of four-junction solar cells reached a newly confirmed world record of 43.4 percent.
“This value is a new milestone in the history of CPV technology and demonstrates the potential available for industrial implementation,” says a pleased Dr. Andreas Bett, Deputy Director of the Institute and Division Director of Materials, Solar Cells and Technology at Fraunhofer ISE.
Multi-junction solar cells are used in concentrator photovoltaics (CPV). This technology is implemented in regions with a high share of direct irradiation to generate renewable electricity at cost-effective prices. In 2014 the researchers in Freiburg, together with their French partners Soitec and CEA Leti, achieved a new world-record efficiency for a four-junction solar cell.
The mini-module holding the new current record is based on this type of multi-junction solar cells in combination with a high-efficiency optic. The details of the technology behind this success will be presented at the upcoming CPV12 International Conference on Concentrator Photovoltaic Systems.
This international conference for CPV will be held in Freiburg, Germany from 25-27 April 2016.
http://www.cpv-12.org
Fraunhofer ISE and the US research institute NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) publish a current report on the status of this exciting technology, entitled “Current Status of Concentrator Photovoltaic (CPV) Technology” (https://www.ise.fraunhofer.de/en/publications/veroeffentlichungen-pdf-dateien-en… | PDF).
Media Contact
All latest news from the category: Power and Electrical Engineering
This topic covers issues related to energy generation, conversion, transportation and consumption and how the industry is addressing the challenge of energy efficiency in general.
innovations-report provides in-depth and informative reports and articles on subjects ranging from wind energy, fuel cell technology, solar energy, geothermal energy, petroleum, gas, nuclear engineering, alternative energy and energy efficiency to fusion, hydrogen and superconductor technologies.
Newest articles
High-energy-density aqueous battery based on halogen multi-electron transfer
Traditional non-aqueous lithium-ion batteries have a high energy density, but their safety is compromised due to the flammable organic electrolytes they utilize. Aqueous batteries use water as the solvent for…
First-ever combined heart pump and pig kidney transplant
…gives new hope to patient with terminal illness. Surgeons at NYU Langone Health performed the first-ever combined mechanical heart pump and gene-edited pig kidney transplant surgery in a 54-year-old woman…
Biophysics: Testing how well biomarkers work
LMU researchers have developed a method to determine how reliably target proteins can be labeled using super-resolution fluorescence microscopy. Modern microscopy techniques make it possible to examine the inner workings…
