The Previous Record was 17.6%
Scientists at Empa, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, have made flexible solar cells made of copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) with a light-conversion efficiency of 18.7 percent, a new world record. This milestone, about 1% higher than the previous record, might seem like a small step forward, but when looked at in the context of constant incremental improvement, it is significative. What truly matters is the rate of improvement, and how it can be leveraged (1-2% multiplied by many gigawatts of capacity makes a huge different).
Tag Archives: eco news
Photovoltaic Butterflies by Jeroen Verhoeven
Superb.
“this spectacular chandelier is made from 500 butterfly-shaped blue cesium photovoltaic cells, which in turn self-powers a large, hand-blown glass bulb in the center.”
Full story at
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/05/biomimicry-chandelier-photovoltaic-butterflies-jeroen-verhoeven.php?campaign=daily_nl