The world has been fighting with climate crisis over the years and now the coronavirus pandemic. Scientists are working on finding new reusable sources of energy and solar energy is one of them. Solar energy is not that common is world due to its high cost. Solar energy cells are also not giving their full efficiency either. So the scientists are working to increase the efficiency of solar cell technology.

While the whole world is under lockdowns due to coronavirus pandemic THREE records have been broken in solar panel efficiency this month. The first two are achieved by scientist in US at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Following are the records.

1ST RECORD BROKEN

The “six junction” solar cell which is very unique cell has unprecedented energy conversion, turning intensified light into electricity at 47.1% efficiency. This is the most efficient in the world under concentrated light conditions. The previous best record is made a couple of years back which has been broken now by one percent.

According to John Geisz who works at NREL “This device really demonstrates the extraordinary potential of multi-junction solar cells”.

This efficiency rate is achieved by concentrating sunlight by 143 times. But even under the light of single sun the solar cell is better than any other.

2nd RECORD BROKEN

This record shows us that sun has a lot of energy only we have to use it properly. The team tested another “six-junction” cell without concentrating the light, and achieved an unprecedented 39.2% efficiency rate.

The device contains 140 layers of light absorbing material. It captures a particular range of light from somewhere on the solar spectrum. These cells are for that purpose greatly. The device contains so many layers but still is 3 times thinner than your hair. This technique shows us that now even more of sun’s energy can be transformed into electricity.

3rd RECORD BROKEN

This record includes a new invention of cell called as “TANDEM CELL”. This cell is made by the engineers at a German Research center Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin. The cell is made from stacked silicon and perovskite with a certified efficiency of 24.16%.

This device is only few millimeters thick, which combine two different semiconductors, one for the visible parts of the light spectrum and the other for infrared light.

According to Steve Albrecht at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin “This combination is also extremely lightweight and stable against irradiation, and could be suitable for applications in satellite technology in space”

The NREL is charting rise of efficiency rate in all type of solar cells since 1976. This material has increased in efficiency more than any other material since 1976. The compounds like these used in tandem cell have only been included in past few years.

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According to Ryan France, a materials scientist at NREL, “One way to reduce cost is to reduce the required area,” this can be done by using a mirror. You just have to capture the light with mirror and focus it to the point. This way the cells becomes very efficient. It also reduces the cost of using other material and the quantity.

By using any it is impossible to achieve 100% efficiency as the laws of thermodynamics suggest, but if we can reach halfway than it would be a very big achievement for us. This rate can be achievable as the scientists are working on it.

Scientists are also working on reducing the cost of solar energy cell. So that it can be used by large number of people. By achieving the goals in solar cell technology we can greatly slow down the use of other energy resources like coal and fossil fuel. This is also very helpful in saving our environment from adverse effects. It can be very fruitful for Govt’s as well.

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