Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

New Record For Solar Cell Power Efficiency

Posted by kdawson on from the onward-to-50% dept.

mdsolar writes "Renewable Energy Access is reporting that a consortium led by researchers at the University of Delaware has achieved 42.8% efficiency with a silicon solar cell. The method uses lower concentration (factor of 20 magnification) than the previous record holder (40.7% efficiency) so that it may have a broader range of applications, since tolerances for pointing the device will be larger. They are now partnering with DuPont to build engineering and manufacturing prototypes. They expect to be in production in 2010. On a roof, such cells would require less than half the surface area to produce the same amount of power as today's standard solar panels, which have an efficiency of about 17%."

13 of 351 comments (clear)

  1. Smog by Rixel · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hopefully, Solar Cell efficiency will keep ahead of smog cover in major cities.

    --
    Never play chicken with a passive aggressive.
    1. Re:Smog by R3d+Jack · · Score: 2, Funny

      Just move to a location upwind of all the pollution. Like, say, 50 miles west of Los Angeles.

  2. Waiting by Cassius+Corodes · · Score: 5, Funny

    Im waiting for them to reach above 100% efficiency before I'll buy

    --
    Control is an illusion, order our comforting lie. From chaos, through chaos, into chaos we fly
    1. Re:Waiting by Hoi+Polloi · · Score: 2, Funny

      Great, I'm stuck with the old 1st generation -135% efficiency solar cells. They are gas powered.

      --
      It is by the juice of the coffee bean that thoughts acquire speed, the teeth acquire stains. The stains become a warning
    2. Re:Waiting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      I'm waiting until it's even a bit more than that.

      1) Display image of sun on LCD monitor
      2) Disable screensaver
      3) Put solar array in front of monitor
      4)...
      5) Profit!

      What's the (light) efficiency of LCD displays nowadays?

  3. Solar cell? Pfftt..... by ihaveamo · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm working on a lunar cell at the moment... the other 50% of a day is totally untapped!!

  4. fail by jovius · · Score: 4, Funny

    Yes, this is great, but solar power will eventually fail completely, and there are no guarantees for long-term investments beyond five billion years from now.

  5. Re:hmmm. by russ1337 · · Score: 2, Funny

    They pay less for their energy bill, so that means they own more money....Spend it on other things and in that process use more energy than they would have before....Net result? 0
    I didn't realize my energy company was denying me spendable income with the intention of saving the planet. Here I thought they were just squeezing every cent from their customers for profits!
  6. Re:hmmm. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    The hooker herself can be inherently bad for the environment unless you find an off-the-grid vegan hooker. But by that point, she's so skinny and annoyingly opinionated that you really wouldn't want to touch her with a 20 foot pole. Besides, those emo frame glasses were made from petroleum.

  7. Re:hmmm. by tehcyder · · Score: 2, Funny

    I simply cannot fathom the resistance to wind turbines.
    They're planning on one near where I live, and the most amusing objection/worry is that one of the blades might fly off and decapitate a swathe of children playing in their school a few hundred yeards away...
    --
    To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
  8. Re:hmmm. by OldBus · · Score: 3, Funny

    I simply cannot fathom the resistance to wind turbines
    It's probably drag and friction...
  9. Re:You must have failed Physics class by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Q. How many slashdot pedants does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

    A. You can't screw in a lightbulb. It's too small! Two people would never fit in there and have enough room to move.

  10. Smug by smaddox · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'd be more worried about Smug. With all these people buying hybrids, Smug levels are on a record high!