Solar Cell efficiency progress

[begreen]

There are some very interesting developments in solar cell efficiency improvement. There's a 1 minute ad at 7:30, but overall this is an informative video on solar panel development if you haven't been following individual articles in trade journals and science publications.

 

[semipro]

I find myself most intrigued by the integration of PV materials into standard building components like windows and roofs.
I'm not sure stand-alone panels will ever see wide acceptance given their limitations. Mounting PV panels that last 30 years on a roof likely to require replacement in less time seems problematic.

 

[begreen]

Almost a year later it looks like production solar cells may get a huge efficiency boost up close to 29% with a new process developed in Australia.

Scientists Just Smashed World Records When it Comes to Solar Cell Efficiency

Researchers from Australian National University claim to have set a world record for the most efficient type of solar cell.

interestingengineering.com

 

[stoveliker]

That is an old idea, but seeing it work, quantitatively is nice. I wonder though, where it was published - this was also not mentioned in the press release. I'm weary of press releases of records before the results have been vetted. Many times after press releases one does not really hear back about the results, because in peer review it was shot down for whatever reason.

Best to talk (press release) once it's published.

 

[begreen]

There is a link to the original release in the article. At the bottom of the release it says:
The results have been independently verified by the CSIRO.
(I had to look that one up. It is the Australian national science agency.)

ANU scientists set new record with bifacial solar cells

Scientists at The Australian National University (ANU) have produced a more efficient type of solar cell, using laser processing and setting a new world record in the process. The solar cells are dual sided, meaning both the front and back of the cell generate power. Principal Investigator Dr...

www.anu.edu.au

 

[stoveliker]

There is a link to the original release in the article. At the bottom of the release it says:
The results have been independently verified by the CSIRO.
(I had to look that one up. It is the Australian national science agency.)

ANU scientists set new record with bifacial solar cells

Scientists at The Australian National University (ANU) have produced a more efficient type of solar cell, using laser processing and setting a new world record in the process. The solar cells are dual sided, meaning both the front and back of the cell generate power. Principal Investigator Dr...

www.anu.edu.au

I don't see that link, but your funding agency "verifying" a paper does not constitute scientifically meaningful scrutiny. For one, your funding agency has a CoI.

 

[begreen]

It's at the bottom of the article. It also states that funding was separate. We'll see if it makes it to market as a leading tech or not.
This work has been supported by the Australian Government through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics (ACAP).

 

[stoveliker]

Ok. Csiro is some agency that does research and can give certification of efficiency numbers. That is not peer review. That is a bought certification. Not saying it is shady, but the gold staining science is peer review and publication in a journal.

On my browser there is no publication (journal article). See screen shot.

 

[stoveliker]

it has not been published, I searched in databases and on google scholar. Marco Ernst and Kean Chen Fong don't have this result listed.