Intelligence Brief

Instituto de Energía Solar gears up to target CPV industry

13 May 2009

A Spanish institute, which had set a world record in dual-junction solar cell efficiency with a photovoltaic device that converts 32.6 percent of the light impinging it into electricity, is trying to increase the efficiency associated with “dual-junction cell to levels close to 35 percent”.

The record was set by the Group “III-V Semiconductors” of the Instituto de Energía Solar of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid.

“I think that dual-junction cells are not “in fashion” because companies prefer triple-junction cells despite not having analysed issues such as long-term reliability, yearly average electricity produced, etc. Fortunately, we have had and currently have partial transference contracts with both Spanish and foreign companies,” Prof. Carlos Algora, head of the III-V Semiconductors Group of the Instituto de Energía Solar of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid told CPVToday.com.

Prof. Algora added, “I think the interest of companies in our developments would dramatically increase if we were able to achieve a high efficiency at 1000 suns with triple junction cells. This is now our priority.”