NREL Solar Cell Sets World Efficiency Record at 40.8 Percent

[SUBMAN1]

That's pretty impressive! Might start to make these things work in cloudy areas.

-S

NREL Solar Cell Sets World Efficiency Record at 40.8 Percent

August 13, 2008

Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have set a world record in solar cell efficiency with a photovoltaic device that converts 40.8 percent of the light that hits it into electricity. This is the highest confirmed efficiency of any photovoltaic device to date....
Read on here - http://www.nrel.gov/news/press/2008/625.html

[Zachstar]

Meh

http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/12/new-nanoantenna-material-sucks-heat-from-any-source-to-cool-de/

[SUBMAN1]

Meh

http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/12/new-nanoantenna-material-sucks-heat-from-any-source-to-cool-de/

Thats pretty cool! Maybe couple this with a combo solar panel?

-S

[Zachstar]

I want thin film like systems that can absorb atleast the entire deep IR to UV spectrum at less than a third of the cost per watt of the cheapest coal and can be made extremely fast..

Side bonus: Would be nice if it could absorb even deep into radio to remove pesky cell signals...

[August]

Meh

http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/12/new-nanoantenna-material-sucks-heat-from-any-source-to-cool-de/

Meh right back atcha:

Unfortunately, the resulting current generated alternates at rates too high to be converted to DC with current technology -- new manufacturing processes will needed --

[Digital_Trucker]

Unfortunately, the resulting current generated alternates at rates too high to be converted to DC with current technology -- new manufacturing processes will needed --
You took the words out of my, ah, fingers:rotfl:. I wonder how much that "new manufacturing process" is gonna cost to figure out?

[feld]

Also, note that it is a concentrated cell at over 320 suns (1 sun is normal). Concentrated cells use lenses to increase the solar intensity that the photovoltaic sees. Now, don't get me wrong, concentrated cells are great. But they're also GENERALLY heavier and (in space applications) wear out faster as their lenses degrade.

feld

[Platapus]

Also, note that it is a concentrated cell at over 320 suns (1 sun is normal). Concentrated cells use lenses to increase the solar intensity that the photovoltaic sees. Now, don't get me wrong, concentrated cells are great. But they're also GENERALLY heavier and (in space applications) wear out faster as their lenses degrade.

feld

Good info there feld. :up: