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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%."

3 of 351 comments (clear)

  1. You are a fucking asshole. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Linux is a communist piece of shit operating system that never has any hope. Now go away, you greasey, unwashed Free Software Hacker. You make me sick to think you support Open Sores software that is destroying the United States economy by reducing our Gross Domestic Product. You are a terrorist. I should write to my favorite president George W. Bush and tell him to fix this mess with people trying to artificially lower the cost of their software to kill the competition. This is illegal!

    The captcha is "vantage."

  2. You must have failed Physics class by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    You can never get more energy out of something than you put in! Getting more than 100% efficiency would imply that you were. Anyone who knows the law of conservation of energy knows that is impossible! Go back to high school and pay attention in Physics class, you fucking idiot.

    The captcha is "protract."

  3. Re:Smog by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Assuming you're serious - solar energy replaces fossil energy. More solar energy means less smog.

    This is very dangerous, actually. First, less smog means the earth will receive more solar energy, so it will warm up. Secondly, the more solar energy we capture and convert into electricity, the less is radiated back into space (the earth's albedo will decrease). This warms up the earth, which means more airco's being used, need for more energy, more solar power being captured, etc..
    Runaway heating - KEEP AWAY from solar energy!