Environment

Empa claims new world record for solar cell efficiency

Empa claims new world record for solar cell efficiency
New research could result in cheaper, more efficient thin solar cell production (Photo: Empa)
New research could result in cheaper, more efficient thin solar cell production (Photo: Empa)
View 1 Image
New research could result in cheaper, more efficient thin solar cell production (Photo: Empa)
1/1
New research could result in cheaper, more efficient thin solar cell production (Photo: Empa)

Scientists based at Empa, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, have set a new efficiency record for thin-film copper indium gallium (di)selenid (or CIGS) based solar cells on flexible polymer foils, reaching an efficiency of 20.4 percent. This is an increase from a previous record of 18.7 percent set by the team back in 2011.

Flexible thin film solar cells boast the advantages of both increased flexibility, and a more cost-effective roll-to-roll manufacturing process, when compared to more widespread crystalline silicon-based solar cells. However, they are typically considered relatively inefficient.

The scientists, led by Ayodhya N. Tiwari at Empa's Laboratory for Thin Film and Photovoltaics, cite the breakthrough as a key step to making CIGS-based thin film solar cells more practicable for future widespread use.

“We have now – finally – managed to close the ‘efficiency gap’ to solar cells based on polycrystalline silicon wafers or CIGS thin film cells on glass,” said Tiwari.

The efficiency of Empa's flexible polymer foil-based thin solar cells bests the record of 20.3 percent efficiency for CIGS solar cells on glass substrates, and also equals that of the most efficient polycrystalline silicon wafer-based solar cells.

The next step is to scale-up the technology to be suitable for large scale, roll-to-roll manufacturing, and Empa is collaborating with a start-up company named Flisom to help bring this about.

The research is supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), the Commission for Technology and Innovation (CTI), the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) and the EU Framework Programs.

Source: Empa

3 comments
3 comments
Australian
Congratulations to the team at Empa Labs! I'm sure most people won't mind us wishing that is a record to be broken. Hopefully soon, comprehensively at a cheap price! Solar power is shaping up to be a substantial green energy source. My roof is just begging to be lined!
Ed
Yeah...what we are seeing now are efficiencies above 15% now....but not available to the public. It is still more cost effective to cram thousands of 7% efficient solar cells into an array than to put these more efficient ones in there..Until they can bring the cost down to where it would make sense, this is just pie in the sky talk!
Vukile Mlonzi
The technology keeps improving but the prices dont change. I hope the value chain issues on solar power dont become as elusive as the existing fossil addiction.