This solar cell prototype has managed to beat the earlier record of 24.2 per cent.
Researchers all over the world are focusing on solar cells that are cost effective and efficient. The very fact that solar energy is the need of the hour, such innovations make all the more sense. In the latest, Panasonic Corporation has announced a prototype solar cell, which the company claims has achieved the world’s highest conversion efficiency at 24.7 per cent. Nikkei reports that these tests were performed by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology.
This solar cell prototype has managed to beat the earlier record of 24.2 per cent that was delivered by a US based company, SunPower Corp. SPWR -5.60 per cent is a mark that is recognized as the world’s highest by Progress in Photovoltaics, which is an internationally recognized solar-energy research publication.
According to the report, the prototype has a surface membrane that allows more sunlight to pass through it and the electrodes are able to transfer electricity in a more efficient manner. The company has plans to take the prototype to the market for commercialisation and raise the conversion efficiency of its mass-market solar cells, which stands at 21.6 per cent, reports MarketWatch.
Panasonic is working towards lowering the solar cell production cost by manufacturing them at a new Malaysian plant by using most of the parts that are made outside of Japan.