Researchers in Stuttgart have regained efficiency record for thin film solar cells from Sweden.
The struggle between the best efficiency for thin film solar cells, known as CIGS (copper indium gallium diselenide) has been between Swedish and German researchers at the Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen ZSW in Stuttgart.
In June, the record ended up in Sweden, but has now been withdrawn by the Germans, who succeeded with an efficiency of 21.7 percent, 0.7 percentage points better than the Swedish record.
Rekordcellen is only 0.5 cm2, which is the size as usually measured in the laboratory. Over 40 such cells were produced which all reached over 21-percent efficiency. The experiments were monitored by representatives of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE.
Scientists believe that it is promising to bring the technology into mass production.
– It will take a few years before it becomes possible with efficiencies of around 17-19 per cent for such commercial solar cells, said lead researcher Michael Powalla.
Thin Film Solar Cells sold today have an efficiency of up to 15 percent.
Med increasingly high efficiency thin film solar cells become more and more interesting, and it hopes to reduce manufacturing costs. The thin active layer, measured in microns, reducing the materials used in manufacturing.
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