Epiwafer foundry and substrate maker IQE plc of Cardiff, Wales, UK says that its high-volume, production-qualified material has been independently certified as achieving 44.1% photovoltaic cell efficiency by the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), surpassing Solar Junction's previous world record for a standard triple-junction concentrated photovoltaics (CPV) cell.
The wafers, produced using IQE's high-volume MBE tools, were processed by IQE's strategic partner Solar Junction Corp of San Jose, CA, USA, which makes III-V multi-junction solar cells for CPV based on dilute-nitride materials. The standard three-junction solar cells are reckoned to set a new record for production-scale CPV wafer technology and demonstrate improved efficiency over Solar Junction's previous record of 44% reported in October 2012.
"Breaking a world record is a major achievement, but improving on our most recent record using high-volume production equipment produced in conjunction with our manufacturing partner IQE, and Solar Junction's fabrication line in Sunnyvale, CA, is dramatically more significant," reckons Solar Junction's CEO Vijit Sabnis. "This result is a testament to our close partnership with IQE, Solar Junction's dilute nitride technology and our exceptional team," he adds.
Earlier in August, Solar Junction completed the process transfer and full qualification of IQE's high-volume 4" and 6" CPV technology.
"Improvements in CPV cell efficiencies translate to highly significant overall cost reduction in terms of installation and energy generation in utility-scale solar farms," says IQE chief executive Dr Drew Nelson. "The fact that this has been achieved on production-qualified platforms is a major milestone," he adds. "Furthermore, the transfer of wafer production to IQE's manufacturing tools enables the Solar Junction team to focus on further improving efficiencies on lattice-matched, multi-junction CPV solar cells using a combination of their unique dilute nitride technology, combined with pre existing IQE IP. This will facilitate seamless technology transfer into high-volume manufacture of ultra-efficient CPV cells as the conversion efficiency improves further."
See related items:
IQE's CPV materials qualified for high-volume production by Solar Junction
IQE completes CPV technology process transfer milestones with Solar Junction
Solar Junction sets CPV cell efficiency record of 44%
IQE raises £10.5m and invests in CPV cell developer Solar Junction
