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Mitsubishi breaks own photovoltaic cell efficiency record

Mitsubishi Electric says it has improved the conversion efficiency rate of its multi-crystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) cells to just below 19%.

The 18.9% efficiency with which solar light is converted to direct current electrical energy is a new company and world record, claims Mitsubishi.

The improvement rests on a honeycomb-like patterned layer on the rear surface of the PV cell that reflects infrared solar rays back into the device.

PV devices generate electricity by absorbing as much sunlight over as wide a range of wavelengths as possible. But current devices typically only manage to absorb about half of the infrared component of sunlight, the rest of which is lost as heat.

The honeycomb-like pattern of small, bowl-shaped dips is repeated on the front surface of the Mitsubishi PV cell to reduce the amount of light reflected straight off the top of the device.

The company says it will start using the technology on mass-produced PV modules in April next year.

For further information:
global.mitsubishielectric.com

18 February 2009

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