Engineers Have Made A Breakthrough To Create The Most Efficient Solar Cell Ever

[Confounding]

More good news for solar

Engineers Have Made A Breakthrough To Create The Most Efficient Solar Cell Ever

Renewable energy is all the rage now a days and that is why scientists and engineers have ramped up their efforts to come up with better technologies that can make clean energy even more viable. One such step was taken by researchers of University of New South Wales who managed to develop a new solar cell with an efficiency that’s unheard of: this solar cell is capable of converting 34.5 of the energy into electricity.

What makes this solar cell such big news is the fact that it is able to accomplish this feat without the use of concentrators. Concentrators can be thought of as simple mirrors and as the name applies they concentrate the sunlight to a single solar cell. They not only increase the cost at the time of installation but also require a huge area to be installed. In fact, this very team of researchers achieved 40 percent efficiency back in 2014 by using concentrators. Now you can see why this solar cell is much more impressive.

 

[zaangalewa]

34.5% efficiency is excellent. As far as I know 10-20% are normal today. But in 2014 Soitec und CEA Leti, France, and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE in Freiburg developed a 46%-cell.

See: New world record for solar cell efficiency at 46% — Fraunhofer ISE

 

[Old Rocks]

The differance is that the 34% is not a concentrator cell. However, it is still in the lab stage, and rather spendy at that. But it is what we will see in the future, and as the price comes down, you will see homeowners start to use the high efficiency cells.

 

[SixFoot]

I can hardly wait for an affordable, practical alternative.

 

[sealybobo]

More good news for solar

Engineers Have Made A Breakthrough To Create The Most Efficient Solar Cell Ever

Renewable energy is all the rage now a days and that is why scientists and engineers have ramped up their efforts to come up with better technologies that can make clean energy even more viable. One such step was taken by researchers of University of New South Wales who managed to develop a new solar cell with an efficiency that’s unheard of: this solar cell is capable of converting 34.5 of the energy into electricity.

What makes this solar cell such big news is the fact that it is able to accomplish this feat without the use of concentrators. Concentrators can be thought of as simple mirrors and as the name applies they concentrate the sunlight to a single solar cell. They not only increase the cost at the time of installation but also require a huge area to be installed. In fact, this very team of researchers achieved 40 percent efficiency back in 2014 by using concentrators. Now you can see why this solar cell is much more impressive.

The coal and oil people, aka Republicans, say don't bother

 

[zaangalewa]

The differance is that the 34% is not a concentrator cell.

The "not" here is not a mistake?

However, it is still in the lab stage, and rather spendy at that. But it is what we will see in the future, and as the price comes down, you will see homeowners start to use the high efficiency cells.

We will see. I would find it also nice if every village had a little airship airport. But airships are bad weapons. Are solar cells also bad weapons?

 

[zaangalewa]

I can hardly wait for an affordable, practical alternative.

Wood.

 

[SixFoot]

I can hardly wait for an affordable, practical alternative.

Wood.

I have two wood burning stoves and two propane fireplaces. When I can buy affordable solar/wind generators, I'll be getting a check from the local electric co-op every month instead of the other way around.

 

[SixFoot]

Love the idea of floating wind turbines too.

 

[Confounding]

The coal and oil people, aka Republicans, say don't bother

They are ignorant. Solar is getting better and better with no signs of slowing down. The subsidies are about developing a technology. What makes them think getting energy directly from the sun wont be better than extracting it from dinosaur sludge? I think solar has the potential to become more efficient than fossil fuel given enough time to develop the technology.

 

[miketx]

The coal and oil people, aka Republicans, say don't bother

They are ignorant. Solar is getting better and better with no signs of slowing down. The subsidies are about developing a technology. What makes them think getting energy directly from the source is better than extracting it from dinosaur sludge? I think solar has the potential to become more efficient than fossil fuel.

Golly gee whiz batman! Another libtard liar.

 

[Confounding]

Golly gee whiz batman! Another libtard liar.

What did I lie about?

 

[miketx]

Well I'll tell you. When you say that conservatives are against it, you are lying. You don't have a clue what they are for or against. Now, lie again and deny it.

 

[Confounding]

When you say that conservatives are against it, you are lying.

Conservatives are typically against spending money that has already been taxed on anything meaningful that might actually help people. They'd rather spend obscene amounts of money on the military because they think that will protect them from terrorists.