What’s new in the solar universe, you ask? Brace yourselves for a thrill delivered straight from the world of solar technology. A new record has been achieved within the industry, with revolutionary developments in solar cell technology that are set to increase the efficiency of solar energy generation significantly.
Today, I will discuss an exciting recent breakthrough in the arena of CIGS (Copper Indium Gallium Diselenide) solar technology. A collaboration involving Swedish PV manufacturer and Uppsala University has brought forth a new solar cell with a whopping power conversion efficiency of 23.75%, a number that topples the previous record of 23.35% set by Japan’s Solar Frontier back in 2019. This game-changing efficiency number has been certified at 23.64% by none other than Germany’s esteemed Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems.
What made such a marvelous breakthrough possible? Well, the research team used a rather novel approach. They formulated a “hockey-stick”-like gallium depth profile, introduced a high concentration of silver to the absorber, and then tailored a rubidium fluoride post-deposition treatment. This not only improved the microstructure but also advanced the doping density, reduced defect density and mitigated bandgap fluctuations.
This pioneering technology has paved the way for an upgraded variant of solar arrays for home and can prove to be instrumental in transforming the solar companies. Greater efficiency means more output from solar panels for your home, which in turn raises the value proposition offered by solar companies.
The key takeaway here is that this fantastic innovation has demonstrated the potential of CIGS thin-film technology not only as a standalone solar cell but also for optimizing the functionality of the bottom cell of a tandem solar cell. Solar company engineers are working fervently to further improve the absorber quality and raise the cell efficiency to more than 25%.
What does this mean for the future of solar? Well, it signifies a significant leap forward in the journey towards harnessing solar energy more effectively and efficiently. Solar panel efficiency relates directly to the quantity of sunlight that can be converted into electricity. Thus, for anyone pondering about solar panels for your home, these innovative developments vouch for an excellent return on investment.
Stay tuned for more exciting updates from the world of solar. If you’re mulling over installing a solar array for home use, now is a great time to delve into it!
Original Articlehttps://pv-magazine-usa.com/2024/03/07/first-solar-unit-achieves-world-record-cigs-solar-efficiency-of-23-64/
