NREL updates interactive chart of solar cell efficiency

https://www.pv-magazine.com/2022/11/21/nrel-updates-interactive-chart-of-solar-cell-efficiency/ NREL updates interactive chart of solar cell efficiency The US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has released a new, interactive version of its research cell efficiency chart for a range of PV technologies. NOVEMBER 21, 2022 BEATRIZ SANTOS MODULES & UPSTREAM MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY AND R&D UNITED STATES The new version of the Best Research-Cell Efficiency Chart Image: Screenshot, NREL ShareIcon FacebookIcon TwitterIcon LinkedInIcon WhatsAppIcon Email NREL has unveiled a new version of its Best Research-Cell Efficiency Chart. The tool highlights the highest confirmed conversion efficiencies of research cells for a range of PV technologies. With the new interactive version, users can pull up decades of research data and compare custom charts that focus on specific technologies or time periods, NREL said in a statement. They can now find data on a cell’s current, voltage output, and fill factor, in addition to efficiency. The availability of those details will depend on the information in NREL’s records. The highest research cell efficiency recorded in the chart is 47.1%, for a four-junction cell. Its interactive nature allows users to visualize the recent jump in conversion efficiencies for emerging technologies like perovskite solar cells. That contrasts with the steady improvement of silicon solar cell efficiency since the 1980s. Popular content Development of two types of silicon solar cells (in blue) and of perovskite solar cells (in orange) Image: NREL “It’s possible that the NREL efficiency chart is the most presented graph that you can find at the annual PV Specialists Conference and similar conferences,” said Sarah Kurtz, senior research fellow at NREL. “But it has gotten so full that it’s difficult to see the data. With the new interactive chart, researchers will be able to still use the data, but present it in a way that communicates better for their talk.” The cell efficiencies are measured by independent testing centers, including NREL, before earning a spot on the chart. All of the figures are also available as a downloadable file. This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com. ShareIcon FacebookIcon TwitterIcon LinkedInIcon WhatsAppIcon Email BEATRIZ SANTOS Beatriz Santos joined pv magazine in 2020. She writes about new technology, R&D, installations, markets, and policy on the global website. More articles from Beatriz Santos beatriz.santos@pv-magazine.com