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Re: New high end Solar Cell claims 42.8 % efficiency

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>Team sets solar cell record >Using a novel technology that adds multiple innovations to a very >high-performance crystalline silicon solar cell platform, a consortium led >by the University of Delaware has achieved a record-breaking combined solar >cell efficiency of 42.8 percent from sunlight at standard terrestrial >conditions. > >[snip] > >Robert H. >

Sounds like a parlor trick. With 20:1 concentrator optics, dichroic wavelength splitters, and three different solar cells, it's not going to be economic.

John

Reply to
John Larkin
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Probably not any time soon, but that doesn't mean it's impossible to develop the technology to *make* it cheap. Transistor haven't always cost roughly one

*millionth* of a cent, you know. :-)
Reply to
Joel Kolstad

Similar breakthroughs are announced several times per week. Not one in ten thousand amounts to anything.

Do you own anything that uses a fuel cell for power? That has been next year's technology for at least 50 years now. I wish people would announce breakthroughs when they start to be practical.

John

Reply to
John Larkin

Mmm... no.

Understood. I believe the problem is that these days to get funding for research you almost have to resort to hyberpole; just telling someone you're doing pure research that looks promising 20 years down the road doesn't cut it.

Reply to
Joel Kolstad

Does stock in Ballard Power Systems count?

Best regards, Spehro Pefhany

--
"it\'s the network..."                          "The Journey is the reward"
speff@interlog.com             Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com
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Reply to
Spehro Pefhany

one

Negative $50 million a year... they'd make more energy by burning dollar bills.

John

Reply to
John Larkin

consortium led

combined solar

terrestrial

I totally agree with you John - it ain't gunna happen....

Now if we go for a lower overall efficiency (19%) I reckon sliver cells will be far more economical - a 140W panel uses the equivalent of 2 silicon wafers compared to 60 wafers for a conventional solar panel of the same output.

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Also can be very thin and flexible.

Reply to
Ross Herbert

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