Spectrolab Sets World Record for Solar Cell Efficiency

A Spectrolab solar cell recently set a world record by converting more energy from the sun into electricity than any other ground-based solar cell without solar concentration.

The Boeing subsidiary's achievement in ground-based solar cell efficiency was verified by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo.

The cell converted 37.8% of solar energy using a new class of high-efficiency multi-junction solar cell, created from two or more materials and leveraging Boeing technology.

The record was set without concentration, the common practice of having lenses or mirrors focus solar rays on the cells.

"We expect this solar cell technology will have significant benefits for space, ground-based, and sensor applications," said Troy Dawson, president of Spectrolab.

Spectrolab believes this solar cell technology can attain higher levels of efficiency, "possibly more than 45% even under low concentrations," according to Nasser Karam, the company’s vice president for advanced technology.

Spectrolab, which is part of the Boeing Defense, Space & Security unit, is one of the world's leading merchant suppliers of high-efficiency multi-junction solar cells and panels for concentrated photovoltaic and spacecraft power systems. Spectrolab offers sensors and solar simulators, in addition to being one of the world’s leading providers of airborne searchlights.