Aenert news. Technological innovations
Increasing the efficiency of solar cells is one of the most pressing problems in solar energy. Despite the rapid development of renewable energy, it can still provide only about half of new energy needs on a global scale. The low efficiency of wind turbines and solar panels does not allow achieving a power utilization factor comparable to that of fossil fuel energy production sources. For example, currently the efficiency of solar cells in commercial modules does not exceed 20-25%. We have previously noted that the current extensive path of development of renewable energy sources cannot provide the required dynamics of changes in the structure of energy consumption. Obviously, an additional transition to intensive development methods is necessary. A significant increase in the number of scientific research and technological developments aimed at solving this problem gives confidence that the intensive stage of this process has arrived and will inevitably lead to the required results.
Detailed listings of the highest confirmed efficiencies are constantly published by the journal ‘Progress in Photovoltaics’. In addition, a general impression of the main results of this work can be easily obtained from the regularly updated Best Research-Cell Efficiencies chart from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
As follows from these data, the highest efficiency, up to 47.6%, was achieved with Multijunction Cells with concentrators. However, these materials have not yet left experimental laboratories, and each new record has been achieved much less frequently in recent years. The process of increasing the efficiency of Crystalline Si Cells and Thin-Films based on CdTe, which are widely used for the production of commercial solar panels, is also developing quite modestly.
However, there are also examples of more dynamic changes. First, we are talking about Perovskite cells, especially Perovskite/Si tandem and Organic cells. Shanghai Jiao Tong University registered an efficiency value of 19.2% for single-junction organic solar cells, which is a promising result. However, this was achieved in 2022. But 2023 was certainly the year of the global manufacturer of photovoltaic panels, Chinese Longi.
In November 2023, the company reported setting a new world record for crystalline silicon perovskite tandem solar cell efficiency of 33.9%. The previous world record was 33.7% and conducted by King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST) in May this year.
Already in December 2023, Longi published a new message about its next record. This time, the company managed to achieve an efficiency of 27.09% for crystalline silicon solar cells with a heterojunction rear contact. This result was certified by the Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin (ISFH) in Germany. In addition, Longi has successfully developed an all-laser patterning process for return contact cells to replace the costly photolithography process, and has reduced the use of expensive indium by reducing the thickness of the transparent conductive oxide layers.
More information about the research results on improving the efficiency of solar cells can be found here.
By the Editorial Board
Increasing the efficiency of solar cells is one of the most pressing problems in solar energy. Despite the rapid development of renewable energy, it can still provide only about half of new energy needs on a global scale. The low efficiency of wind turbines and solar panels does not allow achieving a power utilization factor comparable to that of fossil fuel energy production sources. For example, currently the efficiency of solar cells in commercial modules does not exceed 20-25%. We have previously noted that the current extensive path of development of renewable energy sources cannot provide the required dynamics of changes in the structure of energy consumption. Obviously, an additional transition to intensive development methods is necessary. A significant increase in the number of scientific research and technological developments aimed at solving this problem gives confidence that the intensive stage of this process has arrived and will inevitably lead to the required results.
Detailed listings of the highest confirmed efficiencies are constantly published by the journal ‘Progress in Photovoltaics’. In addition, a general impression of the main results of this work can be easily obtained from the regularly updated Best Research-Cell Efficiencies chart from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
As follows from these data, the highest efficiency, up to 47.6%, was achieved with Multijunction Cells with concentrators. However, these materials have not yet left experimental laboratories, and each new record has been achieved much less frequently in recent years. The process of increasing the efficiency of Crystalline Si Cells and Thin-Films based on CdTe, which are widely used for the production of commercial solar panels, is also developing quite modestly.
However, there are also examples of more dynamic changes. First, we are talking about Perovskite cells, especially Perovskite/Si tandem and Organic cells. Shanghai Jiao Tong University registered an efficiency value of 19.2% for single-junction organic solar cells, which is a promising result. However, this was achieved in 2022. But 2023 was certainly the year of the global manufacturer of photovoltaic panels, Chinese Longi.
In November 2023, the company reported setting a new world record for crystalline silicon perovskite tandem solar cell efficiency of 33.9%. The previous world record was 33.7% and conducted by King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST) in May this year.
Already in December 2023, Longi published a new message about its next record. This time, the company managed to achieve an efficiency of 27.09% for crystalline silicon solar cells with a heterojunction rear contact. This result was certified by the Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin (ISFH) in Germany. In addition, Longi has successfully developed an all-laser patterning process for return contact cells to replace the costly photolithography process, and has reduced the use of expensive indium by reducing the thickness of the transparent conductive oxide layers.
More information about the research results on improving the efficiency of solar cells can be found here.
By the Editorial Board
