New world record in solar research
Source: ZWS
At the end of April, German solar researchers set a new world record and consequently replaced the American research institution NREL who has been record-holder for 16 years.
Scientists at the Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Wuerttemberg (ZSW Stuttgart) have produced a thin film solar cell with 20.1 percent efficiency. The cell is made from Copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS). This major success in material development shall significantly reduce the costs of the CIGS thin film photovoltaic technology for the medium term.
Higher degrees of efficiency provide a higher electricity yield and thus a better return on PV plants. According to Michael Powalla of ZWS the “industrial application will be the next step of development. But it will take some time to implement the increase of efficiency of the CIGS cells commercially.”
ZWS press release
Scientists at the Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Wuerttemberg (ZSW Stuttgart) have produced a thin film solar cell with 20.1 percent efficiency. The cell is made from Copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS). This major success in material development shall significantly reduce the costs of the CIGS thin film photovoltaic technology for the medium term.
Higher degrees of efficiency provide a higher electricity yield and thus a better return on PV plants. According to Michael Powalla of ZWS the “industrial application will be the next step of development. But it will take some time to implement the increase of efficiency of the CIGS cells commercially.”
ZWS press release
