2024-02-01 05:00:00
In the search for advancements in the field of solar energy, the University of Oxford seems to be one step ahead of the rest. The institution claims to have achieved the world record for the most efficient solar panel, according to information from institution website.
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Currently, the most common commercial solar panels achieve a conversion efficiency between 16 and 24%. However, Oxford claims that in collaboration with Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, its solar panel has achieved a conversion efficiency of 25%. This is the percentage of solar energy converted into electricity that shines on a panel.
Oxford’s big secret is silicon solar cells. While traditional ones can reach an efficiency of 30%, the university has used “perovskite tandem” solar cells on silicon, which could theoretically reach more than 43% efficiency.
The solar panel produced 421 watts on an area of 1.68m². The researchers used standard mass production equipment and optimized it for tandem technology.
With a production line near Berlin, Oxford used Fraunhofer’s multispectral solar simulator to verify efficiency and the supposed world record. It was like recreating natural sunlight in a laboratory to test the panel’s perovskite and silicon layers.
Not only has Oxford already achieved a record efficiency of 28.6% for its commercial-sized perovskite-on-silicon tandem solar cell, but it is going further – and claims to have plans for this technology to surpass 30% efficiency.
The importance of this Oxford feat
- Solar energy is the biggest asset of renewable energy, making up a large part of new clean energy sources.
- By improving efficiency capacity, Oxford solar photovoltaic panels have the potential to change the current scenario by providing more energy than before using the same panel space;
- This will mean cheaper electricity and a faster move towards the constant use of clean energy.
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