« New efficiency record and improved stability for dye-sensitized solar cells | Main | New coating helps solar panels absorb more sunlight »
Blue Square Energy gets more efficient solar cells out of cheaper grade silicon
By MB-BigB | November 5, 2008
Blue Square Energy announced today that they have developed silicon solar cells that hit 14.6 percent efficiency. While this might not sound like a big deal compared to other silicon photovoltaic solar cells, Blue Square Energy’s neat trick is that their cells use a lower grade (and therefore much cheaper) type of silicon. Their cells are made from upgraded metallurgical grade (UMG) silicon - the 14.6 percent efficiency is one of the highest efficiencies shown to date with UMG made cells.
Blue Square Energy calls its patent-pending process Bright Point, and it differs from other companies exploring solar cells made from UMG. The Bright Point cells consist of very thin layer of high grade solar grade silicon on top of the much cheaper 4N UMG silicon. Other companies building UMG cells are blending small amounts of the cheaper UMG silicon with the expensive solar grade stuff, which doesn’t result in that much cost reduction for a solar panel over traditional silicon solar cells.
Click the link for the press release.
Popularity: 45% [?]
Related Posts - PA Governor Ed Rendell says largest solar power facility in eastern US will be built in Bucks County Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell unveiled plans to build a new solar energy power plant that will be the fourth largest facility of its kind in the US and th...
- Physorg.com: V-shaped solar cells could lead to better efficiency Peter Peumans and his colleagues at Stanford University have found that by taking organic solar cells and bending them to form a v-shape, they significantly increased the efficiency of the...
Related Websites - SCOOP! Prosper receives Additional 20MM in Venture Capital RateLadder was in attendance at Prosper Nights SF this evening. In addition to meeting many great lenders, RateLadder obtained a...
- How To Write Profitable Industrial And Technical Product Media Releases Writing effective technical and industrial product press releases for online media sources can significantly increase your Web site's exposure. by...
Like this post? Subscribe in a reader
.
Topics: Solar Power |
One Response to “Blue Square Energy gets more efficient solar cells out of cheaper grade silicon”
Comments
April 1st, 2009 at 2:26 pm
It’s about time Bluesquare (once AstroPower) does something right.