DYESOL LTD. Today this new record made its entry into the NREL efficiency chart. So what does it mean?
What is NREL?
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is the pre-eminent United States Government research and development entity in the solar domain. In addition to conducting world-class research into new photovoltaic technologies, performing ISO recognised certification testing, and undertaking industry standard accelerated stress testing and degradation analysis, NREL also maintain the 'Best Research-Cell Efficiencies' chart. Like the Guinness Book of World Records for the photovoltaic industry, this chart lists the world record efficiencies for all manner and types of solar cells going way back to 1976.
Best Research-Cell Efficiencies Chart
Divided into for main segments, this complex chart plots the improvements in efficiency for the commonly agreed four types of photovoltaic technologies:
- Multijunction Cells: as used in space applications and concentrated PV applications; a 'wafer'-based technology also called '1st Generation'
- Crystalline Si Cells: the most commonly seen PV panels today; a 'wafer'-based technology also called '1st Generation'
- Thin-Film Technologies: also known as '2nd Generation' photovoltaic technology
- Emerging PV: often called '3rd Generation' PV technology, and including Perovskite Solar Cells
Points on the chart are all internationally certified, either by NREL or a select few equivalent laboratories around the world capable of undertaking the rigorous efficiency certification process.
What does the chart mean for Dyesol?
Most of the single junction technologies in the chart show a prolonged period of development between entering record keeping and achieving >20% efficiency. A remarkable anomaly is Perovskite Solar Cell technology, which exploded onto the world stage in 2013 with EPFL's entry point for efficiency of 14.1%, already above all other 'Emerging PV' data points, and the most recent EPFL addition of 21% certified efficiency a mere 2 years or so later. Compared to Crystalline Si Cells, which took decades to achieve this level of increase, Perovskite Solar Cells are the clear outlier in terms of rapid technological progress in the solar technology race. Dyesol is particularly pleased to have EPFL as its primary research partner, and it is wonderful to see EPFL at both the start of the Perovskite Cells plot on the NREL chart and also holding the new world record. This is a fantastic achievement - not only did Professor Michael Grätzel and his team initiate the Perovskite revolution, but they're still on top of it globally.
Dyesol Limited issued this content on 2015-12-17 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 2015-12-17 04:39:06 UTC
Original Document: http://www.dyesol.com/posts/cat/corporate-news/post/EPFL_Perovskite_solar_cell_21_percent_efficiency_entry_in_NREL_efficiency_chart/?___SID=U
