Multi Junction Solar Cell Efficiency

A new kind of solar technology has set a world record for the most efficient generation of energy by a solar cell.

Multi junction solar cell efficiency.

Multi junction mj solar cells are solar cells with multiple p n junctions made of different semiconductor materials each material s p n junction will produce electric current in response to different wavelengths of light the use of multiple semiconducting materials allows the absorbance of a broader range of wavelengths improving the cell s sunlight to electrical energy conversion efficiency. In 2019 the world record for solar cell efficiency at 47 1 was achieved by using multi junction concentrator solar cells developed at national renewable energy laboratory golden colorado usa. Multi junction photovoltaics were developed with the aim of overcoming the efficiency limits of traditional solar cells. Multi junction or stacked solar cells are currently the most efficient cells on the market converting up to 45 of the solar energy they absorb into electricity.

According to the department of energy multi junction solar cells with three junctions have theoretical efficiencies over 45 percent while single junction cells top out at about 33 5 percent. Multi junction solar cells are made of different materials each of which best captures photons of varying wavelengths. The highest efficiency achieved to date with single junction cells is about 22. The new nrel device device contains a total of about 140 layers of various iii v alloys.

The thin film solar panel may be single or multi junction depending on its material s. High efficiency multijunction devices use multiple bandgaps or junctions that are tuned to absorb a specific region of the solar spectrum to create solar cells having record efficiencies over 45. That includes six different photoactive layers. This is above the standard rating of 37 0 for polycrystalline photovoltaic or thin film solar cells.

By stacking six different photoactive layers the record setting multi junction. The maximum theoretical efficiency that a single bandgap solar cell can achieve with non concentrated sunlight is about 33 5 primarily because of. Indications thus far suggest solar cells of this type can reach an efficiency rate of 50.