A group of researchers from the Australian National University have managed to break a world record by creating the most efficient solar cell thanks to the use of laser processing. They have succeeded in producing a double-sided silicon solar cell, which means that energy is generated from both the front and the rear.
In recent years, solar cell technology has evolved a lot, causing the price of solar energy to drop to a point where it can compete with the prices of traditional electricity.
A more efficient system to obtain energy from the Sun
Single-sided solar panel systems have always dominated the solar energy market, but the development of these bifacial systems allows them to be more accessible.
The team of researchers used laser doping technology to manufacture the solar cells. The use of this technology brings many advantages such as the feasibility of the method at room temperature and the easier control of emitter depth and surface concentration.
With this new technology, the production cost of solar cells can be reduced to increase the conduction of electricity.
According to the different tests that have been carried out, these double-sided solar cells are almost 30% more effective than those that only obtain energy from one side.
Therefore, this sets a record for this prototype of solar cells that produce energy with greater efficiency. That is why all the solar projects that exist today around the world will be able to see their efficiency increase if this new bifacial technology is implemented, instead of using the traditional one that obtains energy only from one side.
On both sides, the obtaining of energy is almost identical
In addition, the tests carried out also found that the power generation capacity is practically identical on both sides. For this reason, energy could be obtained from the sunlight that hits the cell directly and, in addition, take advantage of the light that is reflected on the ground, being able to obtain up to 30% extra energy.
This new system will be very important and will help the deployment of future solar installations that produce a greater amount of electricity with the same amount of sunlight and that cover the same terrain as the classic solar panels.
Thanks to the enormous capabilities of this technology, it is expected that in a period of about five years these bifacial solar cells will have a market share of more than 50%.
