Sunpower Reaches 23.4% Efficiency In Solar Cells

Sunpower announced that they have produced a prototype of a solar cell of five inches on a large scale and with an efficiency of 23.4%. This is a world record for a large area solar cell according to the company.

“This is a step up on increase from our Gen 2 technology with efficiency of 22%, which is in mass production since last year,” said Tom Werner, CEO of Sunpower. “The credit for this achievement is for our research and development team led by Dick Swanson and Bill Mulligan, as well as our talented engineering group.”

Sunpower has reported advances in cell efficiency in the laboratory and in mass production since its first prototype in 2003.

“We are pleased to have successfully demonstrated the beginning of our Gen 3 technology,” said Bill Mulligan, vice president of technology development and Sunpower. “The record efficiency solar cell, which is expected to be available commercially in about two years, extends the leadership position of Sunpower and is a key component of our plan to reduce the cost of the system by 50% by 2012″.

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