Converting The Record
Suntech Power Holdings has announced that it has achieved a new world record conversion efficiency of 15.6% on a commercial grade multi-crystalline silicon PV module.This conversion efficiency surpasses the previous record of 15.5% (aperture area only) set by Sandia National Labs 15 years ago. The multi-crystalline module conversion efficiency was independently tested by Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE in Germany.
Suntech's world record breaking multi-crystalline silicon module is powered by Pluto PV cells utilizing solar grade silicon with each PV cell having a conversion efficiency well over 17%. The previous record was based on an aperture area or frameless module. In contrast, Suntech's new world record efficiency includes the framed area, without which Suntech believes it would achieve a conversion efficiency of well over 16%.
Professor Martin Green, Research Director of the ARC Photovoltaics Centre of Excellence at the University of New South Wales, Australia, and member of the PIP committee, said, "Improving the conversion efficiency of multi-crystalline silicon modules has proven particularly challenging and this is a very impressive achievement for such a large module from a commercial supplier. I can confirm that the 15.6% multi-crystalline module result is the highest known conversion efficiency measured by a PIP-recognized test centre."
Dr.Stuart Wenham, Suntech's Chief Technology Officer, said, "This is a tremendous result for Suntech and clearly demonstrates the power and versatility of the Pluto technology, which can be applied to both mono and multi-crystalline wafers. The fact that this module was produced on our commercial scale production lines using regular solar grade silicon is of particular note.The best news is that we believe there is still room for plenty more improvement in Pluto as we push the boundaries of technology development to bring more powerful and reliable solar products to market."
Suntech has initiated commercial shipments of Pluto powered modules and currentlyexpects to ship 10MW to 15MW of Pluto products in 2009 manufactures. Suntech'spatent-pending technology for crystalline silicon solar cells improves poweroutput by up to 12% compared to conventional production methods.
