Spectrolab Terrestrial Solar Cell Surpasses 40 Percent Efficiency new world record

[Larry Dighera]

The Boeing Company <http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/index.html>
Boeing Spectrolab Terrestrial Solar Cell Surpasses 40 Percent
Efficiency

ST. LOUIS, Dec. 06, 2006 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that
Spectrolab, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary, has achieved a new world
record in terrestrial concentrator solar cell efficiency. Using
concentrated sunlight, Spectrolab demonstrated the ability of a
photovoltaic cell to convert 40.7 percent of the sun's energy into
electricity. The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy
Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colo., verified the milestone.

"This solar cell performance is the highest efficiency level any
photovoltaic device has ever achieved," said Dr. David Lillington,
president of Spectrolab. "The terrestrial cell we have developed uses
the same technology base as our space-based cells. So, once qualified,
they can be manufactured in very high volumes with minimal impact to
production flow."

High efficiency multijunction cells have a significant advantage over
conventional silicon cells in concentrator systems because fewer solar
cells are required to achieve the same power output. This technology
will continue to dramatically reduce the cost of generating
electricity from solar energy as well as the cost of materials used in
high-power space satellites and terrestrial applications.

"These results are particularly encouraging since they were achieved
using a new class of metamorphic semiconductor materials, allowing
much greater freedom in multijunction cell design for optimal
conversion of the solar spectrum," said Dr. Richard R. King, principal
investigator of the high efficiency solar cell research and
development effort. "The excellent performance of these materials
hints at still higher efficiency in future solar cells."

Spectrolab is reducing the cost of solar cell production through
research investments and is working with several domestic and
international solar concentrator manufacturers on clean, renewable
solar energy solutions. Currently, Spectrolab's terrestrial
concentrator cells are generating power in a 33-kilowatt full-scale
concentrator system in the Australian desert. The company recently
signed multi-million dollar contracts for its high efficiency
concentrator cells and is anticipating several new contracts in the
next few months.

Development of the high-efficiency concentrator cell technology was
funded by the NREL's High Performance Photovoltaics program and
Spectrolab.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems
<http://www.boeing.com/ids/index.html> is one of the world's largest
space and defense businesses. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing
Integrated Defense Systems is a $30.8 billion business. It provides
network-centric system solutions to its global military, government,
and commercial customers. It is a leading provider of intelligence,
surveillance and reconnaissance systems; the world's largest military
aircraft manufacturer; the world's largest satellite manufacturer; a
foremost developer of advanced concepts and technologies; a leading
provider of space-based communications; the primary systems integrator
for U.S. missile defense; NASA's largest contractor; and a global
leader in sustainment solutions and launch services.
###

 

[H. E. Taylor]

[...]
ST. LOUIS, Dec. 06, 2006 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that
Spectrolab, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary, has achieved a new world
record in terrestrial concentrator solar cell efficiency. Using
concentrated sunlight, Spectrolab demonstrated the ability of a
photovoltaic cell to convert 40.7 percent of the sun's energy into
electricity.

Normally these measurements are done using a standard light
level [AM1.5]. Does anybody know precisely what these folks
have done? The phrase "Using concentrated sunlight" makes
me wonder. Also the description of the cell as a
"terrestrial concentrator solar cell."

<curious>
-het



--
"I find it fascinating that brilliant scientists and philosophers
have no clue how to deal with the basic irrationality of human life
and society other than to insist against all reason and evidence
that things ought to be rational and evidence based." -Scott Atran

Energy News: http://www.autobahn.mb.ca/~het/energy/energynews.html
H.E. Taylor http://www.autobahn.mb.ca/~het/

 

[Pluto]

[...]
ST. LOUIS, Dec. 06, 2006 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that
Spectrolab, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary, has achieved a new world
record in terrestrial concentrator solar cell efficiency. Using
concentrated sunlight, Spectrolab demonstrated the ability of a
photovoltaic cell to convert 40.7 percent of the sun's energy into
electricity.

Normally these measurements are done using a standard light
level [AM1.5]. Does anybody know precisely what these folks
have done? The phrase "Using concentrated sunlight" makes
me wonder. Also the description of the cell as a
"terrestrial concentrator solar cell."

<curious>
-het



--
"I find it fascinating that brilliant scientists and philosophers
have no clue how to deal with the basic irrationality of human life
and society other than to insist against all reason and evidence
that things ought to be rational and evidence based." -Scott Atran

Energy News: http://www.autobahn.mb.ca/~het/energy/energynews.html
H.E. Taylor http://www.autobahn.mb.ca/~het/

All truths start off as blasphemies.
--George Bernard Shaw

 

[Paul Ciszek]

[...]
ST. LOUIS, Dec. 06, 2006 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that
Spectrolab, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary, has achieved a new world
record in terrestrial concentrator solar cell efficiency. Using
concentrated sunlight, Spectrolab demonstrated the ability of a
photovoltaic cell to convert 40.7 percent of the sun's energy into
electricity.

Normally these measurements are done using a standard light
level [AM1.5]. Does anybody know precisely what these folks
have done? The phrase "Using concentrated sunlight" makes
me wonder. Also the description of the cell as a
"terrestrial concentrator solar cell."

You've probably seen them at some point--reflectors that focus sunlight
on a small area to cook a hot dog, run a stirling engine, or allow a
photocell to function at a higher efficiency that it would otherwise.
This has its drawbacks--concentrator designs must track the sun, which
implies moving parts vulnerable to breakdown, and all those reflective
surfaces have to be kept clean. But it is one possible way to achieve
higher efficiencies.

To first order (hey, everything is linear, at least to first order) you
can think of it like this: Imagine that a cell doesn't produce any
power at all below a certain light intensity. Then, it converts any
amount of light above that threshhold with a certain efficiency.
Increasing the amount of light on the cell doesn't just give you more
power, a greater fraction of the total light energy is being converted
to into electricity. In a case like that, it actually makes sense to
concentrate the light that would have shone on several cells onto just
one.

 

[H. E. Taylor]

[...]
ST. LOUIS, Dec. 06, 2006 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that
Spectrolab, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary, has achieved a new world
record in terrestrial concentrator solar cell efficiency. Using
concentrated sunlight, Spectrolab demonstrated the ability of a
photovoltaic cell to convert 40.7 percent of the sun's energy into
electricity.

Normally these measurements are done using a standard light
level [AM1.5]. Does anybody know precisely what these folks
have done? The phrase "Using concentrated sunlight" makes
me wonder. Also the description of the cell as a
"terrestrial concentrator solar cell."

You've probably seen them at some point--reflectors that focus sunlight
on a small area to cook a hot dog, run a stirling engine, or allow a
photocell to function at a higher efficiency that it would otherwise.
This has its drawbacks--concentrator designs must track the sun, which
implies moving parts vulnerable to breakdown, and all those reflective
surfaces have to be kept clean. But it is one possible way to achieve
higher efficiencies.

To first order (hey, everything is linear, at least to first order) you
can think of it like this: Imagine that a cell doesn't produce any
power at all below a certain light intensity. Then, it converts any
amount of light above that threshhold with a certain efficiency.
Increasing the amount of light on the cell doesn't just give you more
power, a greater fraction of the total light energy is being converted
to into electricity. In a case like that, it actually makes sense to
concentrate the light that would have shone on several cells onto just
one.

I haven't had time to go searching for further material but the
articles I have seen were not clear. It sounded something like
your hot-dog example above, but the 40% claim seems to muddy the
waters of standard measurements. If for example, the concentrator
accoutrements were removed, what would be the native efficiency
of the photovoltaic material under an AM1.5 sun?

I don't have anything against concentrator systems, I just want
less hype & more clarity.

<fwiw>
-het


--
"In all of history, we have found just one cure for error -- a partial
antidote against making and repeating grand, foolish mistakes, a remedy
against self-deception. That antidote is criticism." -David Brin

How's yer crap detector? http://www.autobahn.mb.ca/~het/detector.html
H.E. Taylor http://www.autobahn.mb.ca/~het/

 

[KeesT]

[...]
ST. LOUIS, Dec. 06, 2006 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that
Spectrolab, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary, has achieved a new world
record in terrestrial concentrator solar cell efficiency. Using
concentrated sunlight, Spectrolab demonstrated the ability of a
photovoltaic cell to convert 40.7 percent of the sun's energy into
electricity.

Normally these measurements are done using a standard light
level [AM1.5]. Does anybody know precisely what these folks
have done? The phrase "Using concentrated sunlight" makes
me wonder. Also the description of the cell as a
"terrestrial concentrator solar cell."

You've probably seen them at some point--reflectors that focus sunlight
on a small area to cook a hot dog, run a stirling engine, or allow a
photocell to function at a higher efficiency that it would otherwise.
This has its drawbacks--concentrator designs must track the sun, which
implies moving parts vulnerable to breakdown, and all those reflective
surfaces have to be kept clean. But it is one possible way to achieve
higher efficiencies.

To first order (hey, everything is linear, at least to first order) you
can think of it like this: Imagine that a cell doesn't produce any
power at all below a certain light intensity. Then, it converts any
amount of light above that threshhold with a certain efficiency.
Increasing the amount of light on the cell doesn't just give you more
power, a greater fraction of the total light energy is being converted
to into electricity. In a case like that, it actually makes sense to
concentrate the light that would have shone on several cells onto just
one.

I haven't had time to go searching for further material but the
articles I have seen were not clear. It sounded something like
your hot-dog example above, but the 40% claim seems to muddy the
waters of standard measurements. If for example, the concentrator
accoutrements were removed, what would be the native efficiency
of the photovoltaic material under an AM1.5 sun?

I don't have anything against concentrator systems, I just want
less hype & more clarity.

<fwiw>
-het


--
"In all of history, we have found just one cure for error -- a partial
antidote against making and repeating grand, foolish mistakes, a remedy
against self-deception. That antidote is criticism." -David Brin

How's yer crap detector? http://www.autobahn.mb.ca/~het/detector.html
H.E. Taylor http://www.autobahn.mb.ca/~het/

Well, you can call it hype, but this is (to my knowledge) the first time the
40% efficiency barrier is taken for (PV) solar energy. And I think world
records are not a hype anyhow. Even if it was only for science it is
important. Like formulea 1 carraces help making our cars to be more safe
(and using less petrol at the same time)
It makes no sense discussing the efficiency of this cell under AM1.5 sun;
this cell is not designed for such an environment. By looking for
"specrolab" and "40.7" in google you will find some (enthousiastic) stories.

And "terestrial" only means that is is designed to be used on earth and not
in space.
regards,
Kees

 

[KeesT]

Sounds like some "smoke and mirrors". If the cell is efficient at
fourty percent it does not need prisms and mirrors. Ambient insolance
is 100mw/cm^2. Did they convert fourty percent of this? I don't think
so..

No, they did convert 40% of the power they concentrated on the cell; for PV
efficiency is defined as: output electrical energy devided by incident solar
energy. At 100 mW/cm2 the efficiency of their cell is less; at higher light
power, higher efficiencies are possible.

Their cell is much to expensive to use under ambient conditions. By adding
the relative cheep mirrors (or lenses) and cooling, the overall electricity
cost can go down.

Kees

 

[glenn Jacobs]

I went non tracker and added a few panels because it eliminates a
mechanical device that is bound to wear out and present maintence issues.
I run my house on 1600 watts of panels and very rarely have to run the
generator. Usually when I do the problem is on the AC Power side. The
most frequent being a running toilet at night that keeps cycling the well
pump on.

JakeInHartsel

 

[H. E. Taylor]

As I recall, the efficiency was measured by NREL. While I don't have
specific knowledge of their concentrator measurement procedures, I have
more than passing familiarity with their measurement procedures in
general and I'm virtually certain that they measured this one under the
AM1.5 *spectrum*, though not the *intensity* (both of which are
specified by the ASTM and ISO AM1.5 standards).

As for the other part of your query, if you put a concentrator cell
under un-concentrated sunlight (i.e., 1 sun, as opposed to the hundreds
of suns this one was probably measured under) you will measure a lower
efficiency. This comes about purely through the physical design of the
solar cell.

I came across another article just today that mentions 244 suns...

[...]

<regards>
-het



--
"The universe is full of magical things patiently waiting for
our wits to grow sharper." -Eden Phillpotts

PV FAQ: http://www.autobahn.mb.ca/~het/energy/pv_faq.html
H.E. Taylor http://www.autobahn.mb.ca/~het/

 

[[email protected]]

One square meter of sunlight contains 850 watts of direct energy per
square meter at Earth's surface...

That's power, not energy.

Nick

 

[Jens Kr. Kirkebø]

Power is a type of measurement of energy. It ain't soup or dirt.

That is like saying that horsepower is a type of measurement of
gasoline...

 

[[email protected]]

Power is a type of measurement of energy...

Of course. And miles per hour is a measure of distance

Nick

 

[[email protected]]

I guess if I were to re-write the sentence I would add two words;

"One square meter of sunlight contains 850 watts of diret energy per
square meter per second at Earth's surface'

This might work, with the word joules vs watts.

Nick

 

[Larry Dighera]

More information:

http://www.tgdaily.com/2006/10/25/spectrolab_tour_video/
Solar cells could power most of your home in the future
Humphrey Cheung
October 25, 2006 15:58


Sylmar (CA) - Almost all your electricity comes from a local power
plant, usually of a coal, natural gas or nuclear variety, but in the
future most of this electricity could come from high-efficiency solar
cells. Spectrolab, a Boeing subsidiary, is currently producing cells
that are almost 40% efficient and promise even higher efficiencies in
the future. Company executives and engineers explained how the solar
cells work and even gave us a tour of their Sylmar California factory.

Click here for pictures of our Spectrolab visit...

Spectrolab currently earns most of its revenue from selling
satellite-based solar cells and around 60% of satellites use a
Spectrolab-based solar panel. Surprisingly, space-based solar cells
are less efficient, percentage-wise, than terrestrial cells. The
reason, according to Dr. Lillington, President of Spectrolab, is that
the bluer sunlight in space is not absorbed as well.

Lillington added that a terrestrial solar cell would generally be
about 10 percent more efficient than its space-based counterpart.
Despite this efficiency gap, space cells still win out because
satellites get 100% percent of the sun's energy, while our atmosphere
filters out about one-fifth of the energy.

According to Dr. Lillington, Spectrolab is trying to cash in on the
massive home market with concentrator-based gallium-arsenide cells
that promise to be much more efficient than traditional silicon cells.
These cells use relatively inexpensive mirrors and lenses to focus
sunlight onto the expensive semiconductor portion of the solar cell.

Spectrolab has already developed a 40% efficient concentrator-based
cell and thinks a 45% efficient cell can be made by 2009. Lillington
said 45% is "probably the limit" of what can be produced with current
technology and materials.

Click to start the video ...

During our factory tour, Jeff Peacock, Director of Photo Voltaic
Products, told us that mirrors and lenses can concentrate light by as
much as 500 times which allows a one centimeter square cell to produce
16 watts. He added that such a cell costs about $10 to $20 to make.

Spectrolab produces approximate 700 kilowatts worth of
non-concentrated gallium arsenide solar panels annually. Company
representatives said more than 200 megawatts can be squeezed out of
the same panels if concentrators are used.

Worldwide solar panel production is led by Japanese companies like
Sharp and Kyocera, but American companies are trying hard to catch up.
Google's Nanosolar has planned a 500 MW capacity plant for the Silicon
Valley area and Spectrolab thinks it can deliver 120 MW of
concentrated cells and still keep up with space orders. Dr. Lillington
said the company has to custom build many of the current panels, but
standardization of sizes and the use of robotic manufacturing could
speed up production.

The Boeing Company <http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/index.html>
Boeing Spectrolab Terrestrial Solar Cell Surpasses 40 Percent
Efficiency

ST. LOUIS, Dec. 06, 2006 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that
Spectrolab, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary, has achieved a new world
record in terrestrial concentrator solar cell efficiency. Using
concentrated sunlight, Spectrolab demonstrated the ability of a
photovoltaic cell to convert 40.7 percent of the sun's energy into
electricity. The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy
Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colo., verified the milestone.

"This solar cell performance is the highest efficiency level any
photovoltaic device has ever achieved," said Dr. David Lillington,
president of Spectrolab. "The terrestrial cell we have developed uses
the same technology base as our space-based cells. So, once qualified,
they can be manufactured in very high volumes with minimal impact to
production flow."

High efficiency multijunction cells have a significant advantage over
conventional silicon cells in concentrator systems because fewer solar
cells are required to achieve the same power output. This technology
will continue to dramatically reduce the cost of generating
electricity from solar energy as well as the cost of materials used in
high-power space satellites and terrestrial applications.

"These results are particularly encouraging since they were achieved
using a new class of metamorphic semiconductor materials, allowing
much greater freedom in multijunction cell design for optimal
conversion of the solar spectrum," said Dr. Richard R. King, principal
investigator of the high efficiency solar cell research and
development effort. "The excellent performance of these materials
hints at still higher efficiency in future solar cells."

Spectrolab is reducing the cost of solar cell production through
research investments and is working with several domestic and
international solar concentrator manufacturers on clean, renewable
solar energy solutions. Currently, Spectrolab's terrestrial
concentrator cells are generating power in a 33-kilowatt full-scale
concentrator system in the Australian desert. The company recently
signed multi-million dollar contracts for its high efficiency
concentrator cells and is anticipating several new contracts in the
next few months.

Development of the high-efficiency concentrator cell technology was
funded by the NREL's High Performance Photovoltaics program and
Spectrolab.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems
<http://www.boeing.com/ids/index.html> is one of the world's largest
space and defense businesses. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing
Integrated Defense Systems is a $30.8 billion business. It provides
network-centric system solutions to its global military, government,
and commercial customers. It is a leading provider of intelligence,
surveillance and reconnaissance systems; the world's largest military
aircraft manufacturer; the world's largest satellite manufacturer; a
foremost developer of advanced concepts and technologies; a leading
provider of space-based communications; the primary systems integrator
for U.S. missile defense; NASA's largest contractor; and a global
leader in sustainment solutions and launch services.
###

 

[SJC]

This seems to be a new process that they can tune going forward for more.

More information:

http://www.tgdaily.com/2006/10/25/spectrolab_tour_video/
Solar cells could power most of your home in the future
Humphrey Cheung
October 25, 2006 15:58


Sylmar (CA) - Almost all your electricity comes from a local power
plant, usually of a coal, natural gas or nuclear variety, but in the
future most of this electricity could come from high-efficiency solar
cells. Spectrolab, a Boeing subsidiary, is currently producing cells
that are almost 40% efficient and promise even higher efficiencies in
the future. Company executives and engineers explained how the solar
cells work and even gave us a tour of their Sylmar California factory.

Click here for pictures of our Spectrolab visit...

Spectrolab currently earns most of its revenue from selling
satellite-based solar cells and around 60% of satellites use a
Spectrolab-based solar panel. Surprisingly, space-based solar cells
are less efficient, percentage-wise, than terrestrial cells. The
reason, according to Dr. Lillington, President of Spectrolab, is that
the bluer sunlight in space is not absorbed as well.

Lillington added that a terrestrial solar cell would generally be
about 10 percent more efficient than its space-based counterpart.
Despite this efficiency gap, space cells still win out because
satellites get 100% percent of the sun's energy, while our atmosphere
filters out about one-fifth of the energy.

According to Dr. Lillington, Spectrolab is trying to cash in on the
massive home market with concentrator-based gallium-arsenide cells
that promise to be much more efficient than traditional silicon cells.
These cells use relatively inexpensive mirrors and lenses to focus
sunlight onto the expensive semiconductor portion of the solar cell.

Spectrolab has already developed a 40% efficient concentrator-based
cell and thinks a 45% efficient cell can be made by 2009. Lillington
said 45% is "probably the limit" of what can be produced with current
technology and materials.

Click to start the video ...

During our factory tour, Jeff Peacock, Director of Photo Voltaic
Products, told us that mirrors and lenses can concentrate light by as
much as 500 times which allows a one centimeter square cell to produce
16 watts. He added that such a cell costs about $10 to $20 to make.

Spectrolab produces approximate 700 kilowatts worth of
non-concentrated gallium arsenide solar panels annually. Company
representatives said more than 200 megawatts can be squeezed out of
the same panels if concentrators are used.

Worldwide solar panel production is led by Japanese companies like
Sharp and Kyocera, but American companies are trying hard to catch up.
Google's Nanosolar has planned a 500 MW capacity plant for the Silicon
Valley area and Spectrolab thinks it can deliver 120 MW of
concentrated cells and still keep up with space orders. Dr. Lillington
said the company has to custom build many of the current panels, but
standardization of sizes and the use of robotic manufacturing could
speed up production.

The Boeing Company <http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/index.html>
Boeing Spectrolab Terrestrial Solar Cell Surpasses 40 Percent
Efficiency

ST. LOUIS, Dec. 06, 2006 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that
Spectrolab, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary, has achieved a new world
record in terrestrial concentrator solar cell efficiency. Using
concentrated sunlight, Spectrolab demonstrated the ability of a
photovoltaic cell to convert 40.7 percent of the sun's energy into
electricity. The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy
Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colo., verified the milestone.

"This solar cell performance is the highest efficiency level any
photovoltaic device has ever achieved," said Dr. David Lillington,
president of Spectrolab. "The terrestrial cell we have developed uses
the same technology base as our space-based cells. So, once qualified,
they can be manufactured in very high volumes with minimal impact to
production flow."

High efficiency multijunction cells have a significant advantage over
conventional silicon cells in concentrator systems because fewer solar
cells are required to achieve the same power output. This technology
will continue to dramatically reduce the cost of generating
electricity from solar energy as well as the cost of materials used in
high-power space satellites and terrestrial applications.

"These results are particularly encouraging since they were achieved
using a new class of metamorphic semiconductor materials, allowing
much greater freedom in multijunction cell design for optimal
conversion of the solar spectrum," said Dr. Richard R. King, principal
investigator of the high efficiency solar cell research and
development effort. "The excellent performance of these materials
hints at still higher efficiency in future solar cells."

Spectrolab is reducing the cost of solar cell production through
research investments and is working with several domestic and
international solar concentrator manufacturers on clean, renewable
solar energy solutions. Currently, Spectrolab's terrestrial
concentrator cells are generating power in a 33-kilowatt full-scale
concentrator system in the Australian desert. The company recently
signed multi-million dollar contracts for its high efficiency
concentrator cells and is anticipating several new contracts in the
next few months.

Development of the high-efficiency concentrator cell technology was
funded by the NREL's High Performance Photovoltaics program and
Spectrolab.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems
<http://www.boeing.com/ids/index.html> is one of the world's largest
space and defense businesses. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing
Integrated Defense Systems is a $30.8 billion business. It provides
network-centric system solutions to its global military, government,
and commercial customers. It is a leading provider of intelligence,
surveillance and reconnaissance systems; the world's largest military
aircraft manufacturer; the world's largest satellite manufacturer; a
foremost developer of advanced concepts and technologies; a leading
provider of space-based communications; the primary systems integrator
for U.S. missile defense; NASA's largest contractor; and a global
leader in sustainment solutions and launch services.
###