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Swiss Federal Lab Claims New World Record For Solar Cell Efficiency
Zothecula writes "Scientists based at Empa, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, have set a new efficiency record for thin-film copper indium gallium (di)selenid (or CIGS) based solar cells on flexible polymer foils, reaching an efficiency of 20.4 percent. This is an increase from a previous record of 18.7 percent set by the team back in 2011."
Before somebody brings up 40% efficient cells, this efficiency is for a single layer. The 40%+ efficiencies are for so called multiple junction cells which are basically several solar cells stacked on top of one another. This record is for a single layer, for which 20% is really good.
Also, comparisons with petrol engines efficiency are kinda pointless since the advantages and disadvantages of solar is environmental impact and cost respectively. Nobody really cares if it is more or less efficient than petrol. What people are concerned about is environmental impact and cost, which are not easily compared by looking at the efficiency.
The fukushima evacuation zone has a 19km radius. Half of which is sea, so this gives around 500km2 of evacuated area.
The Golmud Solar Park in China with a similar latitude produces 317GWh per year on 5.64km2 and costed around 500 million dollars.
So on 500km2 you would produce 28'000 GWh per year and it would cost 44 billion dollars.
Fukushima produced according to wikipedia 29'891 GWh in the year 2009. Building a 4'800 MW nuclear reactor would cost you around 15 billion dollars. But if you include insurance, waste dispossal, dismanteling and opperating costs, you double or tripple this cost.
So your correct it would produce less energy per year, but only slightly. And the overall cost would probably be higher but also only slightly.