The silicon photovoltaic cells with a conversion efficiency of 20.5% has been produced by the Micro- and Nanotechnology Research Group of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC. This efficiency number is the highest level achieved in Spain using this material. This number is comparable to results reported by leading research groups in international level.
UPC researchers developed the cells surpassed the 15% barrier — the average efficiency of the most common photovoltaic cells. A conversion efficiency (of incident light to electric power) of 20.5% has been achieved, which means the energy produced per unit of area can be increased by one third.
In this case, the high efficiency of this new cell type, only 4.8 m² of photovoltaic panels would be needed to meet one family’s annual energy needs (an average of about 4 kWh per day). This compares to an area of 6.5 m² for traditional cells.
The success of the project was to minimize losses, and by pursuing this approach the UPC researchers have managed to produce the most efficient silicon cells in Spain. “We’ve done a lot of work on the conception and development of new materials and structures, and on the technology needed to optimize the entire process and achieve high levels of efficiency,” says Alcubilla. The next step is to develop procedures that facilitate large-scale production.
The research has involved 38 trials since 2002 an the final result achieved in this research is comparable to those obtained in other research projects carried out in countries that are taking the lead in the field of photovoltaic energy. The maximum efficiency obtained for cells of this type is 24.7%, a record set by an Australian group at the University of New South Wales.
Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110204092155.htm