Improved solar cell efficiency is the key to ongoing photovoltaic cost reduction, particularly as economies of scale propel module-manufacturing costs towards largely immutable basic material costs ...and as installation costs become an increasingly large contributor to total system costs. To enable manufacturers to move past the 20% cell energy conversion efficiency figure in production, high-efficiency PERC (Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell) sequences are being increasingly brought online. Most new photovoltaic manufacturing capacity added in the second half of 2014 was PERC-based, making PERC now the cell technology with second-highest production capacity, with the latest industry roadmap anticipating PERC will become the dominant commercial cell technology by 2020. The first paper describing the PERC cell appeared in 1989, although the structure was conceived several years earlier. The attractive technical features were the reduction of rear surface recombination by a combination of dielectric surface passivation and reduced metal/semiconductor contact area while simultaneously increasing rear surface reflection by use of a dielectrically displaced rear metal reflector. The key issues in the development of this technology and its commercial implementation are described, including a review of recent adoption rates and the way these are likely to evolve in the future.
•Early history of PERC cells reported.•Key design features PERC identified.•Recent market introduction rate, costs and future prospects discussed.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
The past five years have seen significant cost reductions in photovoltaics and a correspondingly strong increase in uptake, with photovoltaics now positioned to provide one of the lowest-cost options ...for future electricity generation. What is becoming clear as the industry develops is that area-related costs, such as costs of encapsulation and field-installation, are increasingly important components of the total costs of photovoltaic electricity generation, with this trend expected to continue. Improved energy-conversion efficiency directly reduces such costs, with increased manufacturing volume likely to drive down the additional costs associated with implementing higher efficiencies. This suggests the industry will evolve beyond the standard single-junction solar cells that currently dominate commercial production, where energy-conversion efficiencies are fundamentally constrained by Shockley-Queisser limits to practical values below 30%. This Review assesses the overall prospects for a range of approaches that can potentially exceed these limits, based on ultimate efficiency prospects, material requirements and developmental outlook.
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IJS, KISLJ, NUK, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
5.
Solar cell efficiency tables (version 62) Green, Martin A.; Dunlop, Ewan D.; Yoshita, Masahiro ...
Progress in photovoltaics,
July 2023, Volume:
31, Issue:
7
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
Consolidated tables showing an extensive listing of the highest independently confirmed efficiencies for solar cells and modules are presented. Guidelines for inclusion of results into these tables ...are outlined, and new entries since January 2023 are reviewed.
Consolidated tables showing an extensive listing of the highest independently confirmed efficiencies for solar cells and modules are presented. Guidelines for inclusion of results into these tables are outlined, and new entries since January 2023 are reviewed.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
6.
The emergence of perovskite solar cells Green, Martin A.; Ho-Baillie, Anita; Snaith, Henry J.
Nature photonics,
07/2014, Volume:
8, Issue:
7
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
The past two years have seen the unprecedentedly rapid emergence of a new class of solar cell based on mixed organic-inorganic halide perovskites. Although the first efficient solid-state perovskite ...cells were reported only in mid-2012, extremely rapid progress was made during 2013 with energy conversion efficiencies reaching a confirmed 16.2% at the end of the year. This increased to a confirmed efficiency of 17.9% in early 2014, with unconfirmed values as high as 19.3% claimed. Moreover, a broad range of different fabrication approaches and device concepts is represented among the highest performing devices -- this diversity suggests that performance is still far from fully optimized. This Review briefly outlines notable achievements to date, describes the unique attributes of these perovskites leading to their rapid emergence and discusses challenges facing the successful development and commercialization of perovskite solar cells.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
7.
Solar cell efficiency tables (Version 61) Green, Martin A.; Dunlop, Ewan D.; Siefer, Gerald ...
Progress in photovoltaics,
January 2023, Volume:
31, Issue:
1
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
Consolidated tables showing an extensive listing of the highest independently confirmed efficiencies for solar cells and modules are presented. Guidelines for inclusion of results into these tables ...are outlined, and new entries since July 2022 are reviewed. Graphs showing progress with each cell technology over the 30‐year history of the tables are also included plus an updated list of designated test centres.
Consolidated tables showing an extensive listing of the highest independently confirmed efficiencies for solar cells and modules are presented. Guidelines for inclusion of results into these tables are outlined, and new entries since July 2022 are reviewed. Graphs showing progress with each cell technology over the 30‐year history of the tables are also included plus an updated list of designated test centres.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
8.
Solar cell efficiency tables (Version 58) Green, Martin A.; Dunlop, Ewan D.; Hohl‐Ebinger, Jochen ...
Progress in photovoltaics,
July 2021, Volume:
29, Issue:
7
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
Consolidated tables showing an extensive listing of the highest independently confirmed efficiencies for solar cells and modules are presented. Guidelines for inclusion of results into these tables ...are outlined, and new entries since January 2021 are reviewed.
Consolidated tables showing an extensive listing of the highest independently confirmed efficiencies for solar cells and modules are presented. Guidelines for inclusion of results into these tables are outlined, and new entries since January 2021 are reviewed.
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Full text
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
10.
Solar cell efficiency tables (version 56) Green, Martin A.; Dunlop, Ewan D.; Hohl‐Ebinger, Jochen ...
Progress in photovoltaics,
July 2020, Volume:
28, Issue:
7
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Consolidated tables showing an extensive listing of the highest independently confirmed efficiencies for solar cells and modules are presented. Guidelines for inclusion of results into these tables ...are outlined, and new entries since January 2020 are reviewed.
Consolidated tables showing an extensive listing of the highest independently confirmed efficiencies for solar cells and modules are presented. Guidelines for inclusion of results into these tables are outlined, and new entries since January 2020 are reviewed.
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
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