Freely translate an article in the French newspaper Le Monde regarding the income realized in the laboratory by solar photovoltaics in the U.S..
“A technological feat that will charm the promoters of renewable energy. The Boeing-Spectrolab, under the Department of Energy U.S., just tune photovoltaic modules (which convert sunlight directly into electricity) with a yield, ie the ratio of electrical energy and solar energy received reaches 40.7%. The last record, set by the same manufacturer, was 37%. Europe, which developed the Full Spectrum project which is associated with the CEA, does not exceed 35.2%.
These returns are noteworthy when we consider those obtained with traditional PV panels based on silicon, whose ceiling is currently at 26% in the laboratory, and only 17% for industrial production. While conventional cells will leverage the natural sunlight, the Boeing-Spectrolab integrated optical concentrators (Fresnel lens) to focus sunlight. They consist of different layers of semiconductor metals, including gallium arsenide “doped” with Indian, Phosphorus, Arsenic or Aluminum.
These systems, called “Multijunction” leverage the whole spectrum of wavelength of light, from infrared to ultraviolet. Philippe Malbranche, the CEA estimates that a yield of 45% is theoretically possible. But its components are extremely expensive, although the DOE provides for the return of the kWh price will drop to 6 or 7 cents. Concentration modules are limited primarily to regions of strong direct sunlight. “
