Oct 15 2012
Silicon Valley based solar energy company Solar Junction, a developer of high efficiency multi-junction solar energy cells for the concentrating photovoltaics (CPV) market, has set a world record for energy efficiency of a commercial-ready production solar cell.
"Breaking our own world record cements Solar Junction as an innovator and leader in the multi-junction cell space," said Vijit Sabnis, VP Technology at Solar Junction. "We continue to push technological boundaries to further drive CPV costs down."
The power conversion efficiency of Solar Junction's cells was measured at 44 percent at 947 suns, beating the Silicon Valley company's record of 43.5 percent at 418 suns it set in April 2011. Both records were verified by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
Solar Junction's new record continues to demonstrate the value of its A-SLAM™ materials, which uniquely provides CPV system manufacturers the foundation to deliver the most efficient conversion of solar to electrical energy. CPV panels work by concentrating sunlight onto small multi-junction cells, which Solar Junction manufactures at its San Jose facility.
Solar Junction's announcement falls on the heels of a successful investment round, a 5-megawatt order, and several industry awards. Earlier this year, Solar Junction and IQE, the leading global supplier of epitaxial wafers, signed an investment and manufacturing agreement to ramp Solar Junction's market-leading SJ3™ solar cell product to high volumes.
In addition, Solar Junction is commissioning a 6" production fabrication facility, partially funded by a U.S. Department of Energy SUNPATH contract, in Silicon Valley, with shipments beginning in the first quarter of 2013.