Sharp solar cell sets Conversion Efficiency record
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted Oct 23rd 2009 12:22PM
posted Oct 23rd 2009 12:22PM
The kids at Sharp have a long history of solar power development and research -- something which is evident in the solar cells they've attached to everything from televisions to cellphones. Always moving onward and upwards, the company is now announcing that it's achieved a title-holding 35.8 percent cell conversion efficiency through the use of a triple-junction compound cell. Mainly used on satellites, the triple-junction cell uses three photo-absorption layers and materials (such as indium gallium arsenide) to boost efficiency. This is all good news indeed for both people anticipating better solar devices and fans of solar research in general -- and great news for the people that make those 18 foot tall "solar flowers." PR after the break.
[Via Akihabara]
[Via Akihabara]
Sharp Develops Solar Cell with World's Highest Conversion Efficiency of 35.8%; Achieved with Triple-Junction Compound Solar Cell
Osaka, Oct 22, 2009 - (JCN Newswire) - Sharp Corporation has achieved the world's highest solar cell conversion efficiency(1) of 35.8%(2) using a triple-junction compound solar cell. Unlike silicon-based solar cells, the most common type of solar cell in use today, the compound solar cell utilizes photo-absorption layers made from compounds consisting of two or more elements such as indium and gallium. Due to their high conversion efficiency, compound solar cells are used mainly on space satellites. Since 2000, Sharp has been advancing research and development on a triple-junction compound solar cell that achieves high conversion efficiency by stacking three photo-absorption layers.
To boost the efficiency of triple-junction compound solar cells, it is important to improve the crystallinity (the regularity of the atomic arrangement) in each photo-absorption layer (the top, middle, and bottom layer). It is also crucial that the solar cell be composed of materials that can maximize the effective use of solar energy.
Conventionally, Ge (germanium) is used as the bottom layer due to its ease of manufacturing. However, in terms of performance, although Ge generates a large amount of current, the majority of the current is wasted, without being used effectively for electrical energy. The key to solving this problem was to form the bottom layer from InGaAs (indium gallium arsenide), a material with high light utilization efficiency. However, the process to make high-quality InGaAs with high crystallinity was difficult.
Sharp has now succeeded in forming an InGaAs layer with high crystallinity by using its proprietary technology for forming layers. As a result, the amount of wasted current has been minimized, and the conversion efficiency, which had been 31.5% in Sharp's previous cells, has been successfully increased to 35.8%.
Sharp achieved this breakthrough as part of a research and development initiative promoted by Japan's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)(3) on the theme of "R&D on Innovative Solar Cells".
Based on these results, Sharp will continue its efforts toward even greater improvements in solar cell conversion efficiency.
History of Sharp Compound Solar Cell Development
- 1967 Development begins of solar cells for space applications using single-crystal silicon.
- 1976 Launch of operational Japanese satellite, "Ume," equipped with Sharp solar cells for space applications (single-crystal silicon solar cell).
- 2000 Research and development begin on triple-junction compound solar cell to further improve efficiency, reduce weight, and increase durability of solar cells for space applications.
- 2001 Participation in research and development on NEDO's photovoltaic power generation themes.
- 2002 Triple-junction compound solar cell gains certification from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
- 2003 Conversion efficiency of 31.5% is achieved (at the research level) for triple-junction compound solar cell.
- 2004 Launch of small scientific satellite, "Reimei," equipped with Sharp triple-junction compound solar cells.
- 2007 Conversion efficiency of 40.0% achieved (at the research level) for a triple-junction compound solar cell (concentrator type, at 1,100 times concentrated sunlight).
- 2009 Launch of Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite (GOSAT), "Ibuki", equipped with Sharp triple-junction compound solar cells.
- 2009 Conversion efficiency of 35.8% is achieved (at the research level) for a triplejunction compound solar cell based on research and development efforts that are part of NEDO's "R&D on Innovative Solar Cells" program.
(2) Conversion efficiency confirmed by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST; one of the organizations around the world that officially certifies energy conversion efficiency measurements in solar cells) in September 2009. (Cell surface: approx. 1 cm2)
(3) The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) is Japan's public management organization for promoting research and development as well as for disseminating industrial, energy, and environmental technologies.
awesome news,
please nokia/sony ericsson, use those in some darn phones of yours
I'm not one against promoting free power and taking use of solar cells.. But application on a cellphone that finds itself residing in some dark pocket/holster/purse that rarely sees the light of day unless you're talking/texting/surfing on it (in which case probably doesn't have the best angle to be collecting rays)? I don't find it to be the most applicable uses.
Here are some options:
(a) Fab plastic purses and bags (like the ones required in some high schools)
(b) Belt holster, case that allows the cells to be exposed.
(c) Be proud of your phone and in-your-face it to everyone (Not hard for iPhone users)
(d) Hot swappable batteries. One stays at home taking the sunbath, while you use the one already fully charged, the phone will keep up during the day using the energy the battery already has and the one poured by the occasional sun exposure.
(e) Less practical: Move to the Sun. I heard it is a hot place, full of hot bodies.
first of all, LOL that you named only nokia/sony ericsson.
second of all, solar cells on a cell phone is a stupid idea. We'd save way more energy if we concentrated on putting them on rooftops, and the exteriors of automobiles.
@craw Like the awesome Toyota Prius :D
It would be useful if you had a dead battery and you needed some power. Just hold it up to the sun for a little while, and Presto! you have some power to make a call.
You can learn more about Idaho National Laboratory's research projects at http://www.facebook.com/idahonationallaboratory
Awesome news.
Samsung already has 2 solar powered cell phones on the market.
LG has a couple as well.
WHAT?! It wasn't a government institution, but a private company? They must be nationalized for the greater global good!
Um no. Then they'll do worse and fail like most government institutions.
***Socialist Alert*** ***Socialist Alert***
***Socialist Alert***
***Please grab your stocks and run in circles***
According to wikipedia, the current record holders are University of Delaware, the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, and NREL, with 42.8, 41.1, and 40.8%, respectively. All three get government funding.
I don't know. The government created the internet. That worked out pretty well, though it is in need of an update.
I dunno, I'm pretty sure part of me would still be alive today if I didn't have the internet.
NEDO= Research Grant from Government. You like the rest of the Gbeckers are illiterate fact- phobic asses.
Finally. Why has it taken so long to make any real advances in this science? We've had is for 30+ years... I was listening to Lewis Black rip on that topic last night, seriously. We either need to R&D this with a real goal, or drop it as pointless.
unfortunately, real breakthroughs and research takes time.
Its easier said than done.
Although on the other hand, i'd love to see the whole world spending lesser on military and wepaons and dedicating more funds and resources to scientific and educational fields.
Sponsored by: Sunny D - Unleash the power of the Sun.
Keep on , Sharp ! You are cutting-edge !
If they are using Indium Gallium Arsenide for the triple junction, there could be problems for mass production. Global Indium supply is running out and it is becoming harder to find. Hopefully they will find an alternative.
How is it possible? There are like 1,147,995,904 Indiums in India !!!!
Quick, buy some indium before it runs out: http://www.mutr.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=1009560
For the low low price of £1k per kg. I actually find it way way more tempting than it should be. But then who doesn't like ingots of precious metals?
How's it tie in with production cost?
I mean.. is it a new record holder that doesn't really matter because it is too expensive a process for mass market right now anyway.. ?
Or is it something to really be uber excited about?
I am sure our Future Android Overlord is very excited that we can go cordless.
Hasta la vista, ba........................... ****cord plugged off****
That is exactly the problem. As you can see from the list above 30%+ efficiency has been around for a while and is good enough to put solar everywhere the problem is it cost way too much. There are mass production cells that are cheap to make but are in the 6% to 10% range and that requires too many cells and too much practical surface area.
When will the people of University of Idaho start manufacturing their infrared antenna! It will be magnitudes of ten times better than what is currently on the market.
I agree the rectennas seem to be a better way to go.
Call them. 24-hour media cell: (208) 310-9736
I am serious.
Oh, my mistake; it is actually the Idaho National Laboratory. But yeah, they are claiming 80% efficiency, none of this lame 38%. And since they function off of infrared, they work on anything that gives off heat. Which is just about everything today.
Anyone interested in reading more about Idaho National Laboratory's work in photovoltaic nanoantennas should read this paper from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers 2008 2nd International Conference on Energy Sustainability. This provides the most accurate information on the technology, its progress and limitation.
http://www.inl.gov/pdfs/nantenna.pdf
Call them. 24-hour media cell: (208) 310-9736
I am serious.
You can learn more about Idaho National Laboratory's research projects at http://www.facebook.com/idahonationallaboratory
How is 35.8% efficiency greater than 40.8% (U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, August 2008), 41.1% (Fraunhofer, January 2009), or 42.8% (University of Delaware, July 2007)?
And I thought Boeing already rolling into product a cell that's at 41% efficiency...
I thought Boeing has the record?
http://boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=810
yeah i agree. This is not the most efficient cell. NREL, Spectrolab, UDel all have higher efficiency cells... this is a dumb report unless of course they are saying that this was the highest efficiency cell at 1 sun and not concentrated... Well i guess that is cool and all.. But if they use concentration and cant break the record then who cares. It seems obvious to me concentration is a lot better both in terms of the size of the cells you have to use and the efficiency gain.
Not only that, but they beat themselves with their 2007 record of 40.0% according to this article :P
Ok fair enough, the 2007 was with sunlight concentrated 1100 times :P
I believe this is the record using non-concentrated sunlight. And while concentrated sunlight might be better, it is difficult to achieve on a satellite.
There is a machine designed to fabricate this triple junction panel in large scale and low cost production lines. Patented last year in USA. See: www.southcoastphotonics.com.
It's a 1cm x 1cm square, millimetre ruler, and a solar cell all in one!
These will likely be manufactured in 1cm x 1cm size because that is what needed in the concentrating photovoltaics arrays.
This may be a record breaker at 1x sun, it will still likely used with at least 500x suns because tripple junction cells are way to expensive to be used at 1x sun.
Just quote us a panel price in $/watt.