Sharp`s Solar Efficiency Makes A Point
The Japanese electronics giant, Sharp, have announced development of their latest efficient photovoltaic solar cell. With a conversion rating of 35.8% this improves on their previous incarnation which ran at 31.5%. Increasing the efficiency of solar cells allows for higher electricity production without increasing the surface area requited. It also would improve the charge back time of small consumable gadgets like solar powered cell phones or music players.
Solar Array
Primarily designed for satellite technology where weight is major factor. Increased efficiency of solar panels would reduce the launch weight and thus costs or the ability to increase the operational capacity of communications satellites.
Fabricated using a triple-junction compound the cell is produced from indium and gallium which have a high electrical conversion factor. The typical solar panels we think of are constructed from silicon, refined sand, just like memory chips and CPU`s.
Sharps development along with the advancements in other areas, such as thin-film, printed solar and plastic panels will be opening up areas for solar that were impractical or just too costly a few years ago. For those reader that remember the pace of Memory chip capacity and CPU speeds over the last 30 years can relate to the speed of research and development in the solar technology.
Sharp is also involved in other solar developments such as compact semiconductor packaging which enables solar cell modules to be as thin a 0.8mm which can be used to power slim-line mobile phones and other compact electronic devices.
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