New Record For Solar Cell Power Efficiency

mdsolar writes "Renewable Energy Access is reporting that a consortium led by researchers at the University of Delaware has achieved 42.8% efficiency with a silicon solar cell. The method uses lower concentration (factor of 20 magnification) than the previous record holder (40.7% efficiency) so that it may have a broader range of applications, since tolerances for pointing the device will be larger. They are now partnering with DuPont to build engineering and manufacturing prototypes. They expect to be in production in 2010. On a roof, such cells would require less than half the surface area to produce the same amount of power as today's standard solar panels, which have an efficiency of about 17%."

Smog

[Rixel]

Hopefully, Solar Cell efficiency will keep ahead of smog cover in major cities.

Waiting

[Cassius Corodes]

Im waiting for them to reach above 100% efficiency before I'll buy

Solar cell? Pfftt.....

[ihaveamo]

I'm working on a lunar cell at the moment... the other 50% of a day is totally untapped!!

fail

[jovius]

Yes, this is great, but solar power will eventually fail completely, and there are no guarantees for long-term investments beyond five billion years from now.

Re:hmmm.

[russ1337]

They pay less for their energy bill, so that means they own more money....Spend it on other things and in that process use more energy than they would have before....Net result? 0

I didn't realize my energy company was denying me spendable income with the intention of saving the planet. Here I thought they were just squeezing every cent from their customers for profits!

Re:hmmm.

[Anonymous Coward]

The hooker herself can be inherently bad for the environment unless you find an off-the-grid vegan hooker. But by that point, she's so skinny and annoyingly opinionated that you really wouldn't want to touch her with a 20 foot pole. Besides, those emo frame glasses were made from petroleum.

Re:hmmm.

[tehcyder]

I simply cannot fathom the resistance to wind turbines.

They're planning on one near where I live, and the most amusing objection/worry is that one of the blades might fly off and decapitate a swathe of children playing in their school a few hundred yeards away...

Re:hmmm.

[OldBus]

I simply cannot fathom the resistance to wind turbines

It's probably drag and friction...

Re:Waiting

[Hoi Polloi]

Great, I'm stuck with the old 1st generation -135% efficiency solar cells. They are gas powered.

Re:Smog

[R3d Jack]

Just move to a location upwind of all the pollution. Like, say, 50 miles west of Los Angeles.

Re:Waiting

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm waiting until it's even a bit more than that.

1) Display image of sun on LCD monitor
2) Disable screensaver
3) Put solar array in front of monitor
4)...
5) Profit!

What's the (light) efficiency of LCD displays nowadays?

Re:You must have failed Physics class

[Anonymous Coward]

Q. How many slashdot pedants does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

A. You can't screw in a lightbulb. It's too small! Two people would never fit in there and have enough room to move.

Smug

[smaddox]

I'd be more worried about Smug. With all these people buying hybrids, Smug levels are on a record high!