Eco Trees

Scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy (NREL) have announced a new world record, obtaining a value of 40.8% for solar cell efficiency. This was possible with a photovoltaic device that transforms 40.8% percent of the light that hits it into electricity.

The new solar cell was designed, manufactured and measured at the NREL headquarters and represents a natural candidate for space satellite market and for terrestrial concentrated photovoltaic arrays which use lenses or mirrors to focus sunlight onto solar cells.

The new solar cell differs significantly from the previous record holder by it's composition that makes the sun to be absorbed more easily, thus becoming more efficient. The properties of the new semiconductor material have a greater potential to convert the sun light into electricity.

The previous record was a percentage of 31.25% net efficiency.