Dive Summary:
- First Solar has set a new world record for cadmium telluride photovoltaic solar cell conversion efficiency, according to tests conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewables Energy Laboratory.
- The record now stands at 18,7% efficiency and was achieved thanks in part to First Solar's continuous manufacturing process, which transforms a sheet of glass into a complete solar module in less than two and a half hours.
- The company says that it has produced more than 90 million thin-film solar modules, which is enough to provide clean energy for about 3.5 million homes.
From the article:
First solar’s chief technology officer Raffi Garabedian says, “This achievement showcases the huge potential of CdTe compared to other PV technologies and highlights the performance gains we continue to achieve thanks to our consistent and strong investment in R&D.We are confident the advanced technologies and processes we developed for this record-setting cell will further enhance the performance of our future production modules and power plants.” ...