Renewable energies: German research team from the Fraunhofer Institute develops the most efficient solar cell in the world

Renewable energies: German research team from the Fraunhofer Institute develops the most efficient solar cell in the world THE MIRROR Viola Kiel - Yesterday at 15:58 Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute have succeeded in increasing the efficiency of a solar cell to 47.6 percent for the first time - a record that, however, only applies under laboratory conditions. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems in Freiburg have produced the best solar cell that has been developed to date: a quadruple solar cell with an efficiency of 47.6 percent. According to the institute, this was made possible by a new anti-reflective coating, among other things. The development is a »milestone«. The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems has been researching efficient solar cells for two years. The aim of the project is to produce a solar cell with an efficiency of 50 percent. The efficiency determines the amount of energy that can be "harvested" from a surface and converted into electricity. It also determines the costs, resource consumption and thus the sustainability of energy production. Under normal conditions, the efficiency of common solar cells is less than 30 percent. Most of the solar energy is therefore not used. »The most sustainable form of renewable electricity generation« The team in Freiburg used a multi-junction solar cell, which combines solar cells made of different materials, and optimized each individual layer. The scientists made process technological improvements to the metal contacts and installed improved anti-reflection layers. This would have reduced the resistive losses as well as the reflection at the front of the cell. "We are delighted with this result," said the scientist involved, Frank Dimroth. "With our work, we want to contribute to making concentrating photovoltaics even more efficient and competitive, because we believe that this is the most sustainable form of renewable electricity generation." Multi-junction solar cells are among the most efficient solar cells in the world. They develop their highest potential when the sunlight is also bundled by lenses onto components just a few square millimeters. So far, however, the super solar cell from Freiburg has only achieved an efficiency of more than 47 percent under laboratory conditions, where sunlight can be concentrated in many ways. -------------------------------------------------- -------- 'Satire is my favorite animal' by Wolfgang Hampel is, according to many enthusiastic readers worldwide, one of the funniest books of all time. The Heidelberg satirist, Betty MacDonald fan club - and Vita Magica founder Wolfgang Hampel has found many enthusiastic readers in the UK, USA, in the German-speaking countries - and many other countries. A wonderful book that puts a smile on your face.