Apr 20 2010
Crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules producer Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. has provided 240 state-of-the-art solar panels meant for a rooftop installation of 48 kW capacity on Town Hall located in Sydney, Australia. The solar panels incorporate the advanced Pluto technology of Suntech Power Holdings.
The solar system, which was integrated and installed by Stowe Electrical, will provide clean energy to the Council Chambers and Town Hall for many years to come. The installation comes as part of a funding plan of AUD$18 million meant for increasing the energy efficiency of properties in Sydney.
Clover Moore, the Lord Mayor, commented that the goal of the Sustainable Sydney 2030 vision is to generate 25% of the city’s energy requirements from renewable resources and decrease reliance on energy generated from coal-fired plants. To that end, the new installation of the solar system on Town Hall is a step forward in reaching that goal.
Inspired by PERL solar cells offered by UNSW, the Pluto technology features a solar cell design that significantly enhances the conversion efficiencies of commercialized solar cells by around 12%. According to tests conducted by the Fraunhofer Institute, the Pluto-powered monocrystalline cells of Suntech have achieved conversion efficiencies of 19% in commercial production.
The CEO and Chairman of Suntech Power Holdings Zhengrong Shi stated that the company, by the year 2012, plans to achieve conversion efficiencies of more than 20% in monocrystalline solar cells.
Apart from its partnership with UNSW, Suntech Power Holdings also works with Swinburne University of Technology for developing nanoplasmonic solar cells, which have the potential of increasing the solar cells efficiency.