Solar Cells Meets New World Record Efficiency

        Researchers at the German Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems have achieved a new world record for the conversion of sunlight into electricity using a new solar cell structure with four solar subcells. It took three years of research on this particular solar technology to hit the new world record of 44.7%, an efficiency that is getting the world of solar technology tantalizingly close to 50%.
        Just four months ago in May 2013, the group of researchers at the institute were able to achieve an efficiency of 43.6% with the technology. This type of solar cell is used in concentrator photovoltaics (CPV). Phys.org reports, "The terresterial use of so-called III-V multi-junction solar cells, which originally came from space technology, has prevailed to realize highest efficiencies for the conversion of sunlight to electricity. In this multi-junction solar cell, several cells made out of different III-V semiconductor materials are stacked on top of each other. The single subcells absorb different wavelength ranges of the solar spectrum."
       The solar cells developed in the Fraunhofer labs are manufactured by Soitec. So far, the company has produced solar cells for installations in Italy, France, South Africa and California, as well as in 14 other countries.

Solar Funding in Germany Will Stop at 52 Gigawatts

Germany's energy policies have been very friendly towards the continual production of clean energy sources such as solar and wind power. While some of these policies tend to be structural and permanent, others are designed to be "temporary boosts" to help society rely less on fossil fuels and more on renewable energy sources. 

Peter Altmaier, Germany's federal minister of the environment, has announced that Germany will stop subsidizing solar energy by the year 2018 at the latest because the pre-set ceiling of 52 gigawatts of capacity should be reached by that time. 

          

AFP writes: "The system of subsidies, under which solar energy producers are paid a guaranteed price for each kilowatt-hour of power generated, created a boom in recent years, making Germany a global leader in the field. The farm sector in particular seized upon solar power as a chance to supplement income, and the low price of solar panels from Asia contributed to the craze."

Solar Day Pilipinas -- A Yearly Event From Now On

      During this extreme heatwave coming this summer in the Philippines, there lies potential for solar power to grow as our reliance on fossil fuels can be reduced or dimmed. The Philippine Solar Power Alliance (PSPA) and the World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines (WWF) has, in fact, celebrated their very first Solar Day Pilipinas 2013 on April 26. PSPA President Dante Briones had described solar power as being a cutting-edge technology and a tool for improving national competitiveness, especially in the Philippines. "The country is actually one of the leading countries in Asia when it comes to solar energy," Briones said.
      Solar power is also estimated to produce 20-30% less emissions of harmful gases than coal power. "Why do we have to thoroughly dig the soil just to look for coal when all we need is to raise our heads to see the sun?" said Claire Marie Yvonne Lee, PSPA Vice President. According to Lee, she observed that many businesses and institutions have already begun to start using solar panels. Some of these, she points out, are Starbucks, the Asian Development Bank, the Makati Medical Center and the Department of Trade and Industry.
       Solar power, however, proves to be quite costly. As a matter of fact, the cost of acquiring one solar panel may exceed the initial savings generated from not connecting to the country's power grid. Though this may be so, PSPA and WWF believe that as costs decrease, solar panels will be economically efficient over time. In addition, solar technology usually is covered by a 25-year warranty. "A solar system is a good investment," said Lee. "Unlike a car or a cellphone, it's not a dead investment," she added.
       At Solar Day Pilipinas 2013, there were products of various solar power developers showcased for the public to view. The products consisted of a range of solar phone chargers to large-scale solar systems for residential areas and commercial establishments. Ten solar power developers present were included as follows: Renewables Made in Germany, MERALCO, Tritec, Transnational Uyeno Solar Corporation, GNB Exite, Maschinen and Technik Inc., Cagayan Electric Power, Sasonbisolar Inc., One Renewable Energy Enterprise Inc., Solutions Using Renewable Energy Inc., CEnAG, SunPower Inc., and Propmech. "Solar Day Pilipinas will be a yearly event from now on," said PSPA Founder and Chair Teresa Cruz-Capellan.

China is leading; no surprise there

       China begins to expand the most towards the $77 billion solar energy industry and is being featured as providing global solar installations to a heaping record. Recent researchers have claimed that this new generation capacity has reached estimating 14% this year to 34.1 gigawatts, whereas in the previous year, it was 4.4% growth due to the government subsidies being cut in Italy and France.
       After constructing many factories, China has been able to cut solar panel prices down 20% in the past year and, in turn, has become the largest consumer of the devices. These price cuts essentially are helping many installers such as SolarCity Corporation, SunPower Corporation while also drastically hurting manufacturers including LDK Solar Company of China and Norway's Renewable Energy Corporation.
        Studies are proven that solar demand is steadily increasing in its growth as European markets slump for SolarCity and SunPower have indeed been gaining 38% and 109% of installations. These low-cut prices may be driving many installations to be done but they are not aiding manufacturers much help in terms of their profit margin cuts. As China had opened many factories and the prices for solar panels dropped, manufacturers' profit margins crashed, stock markets drastically changed and, in result, pushed companies into the option of bankruptcy.
       Even Germany, which has been the country that prospered in being known as the largest solar market in 2013, may be getting unsettled by the thought of China possibly taking over the reputation. However, many sources have claimed that projects have been multiplied in providing financial aid services to its fellow solar companies in a bid to help diversify Germany. Shi Dinghuan, government advisor, has commented that China plans to install 35 gigawatts by the year 2015, compared to a previous goal of 21 gigawatts.

Employees assemble photovoltaic panels (solar panels) at SunTech Power Factory

Argentina builds Most Powerful Solar Energy Park in Latin America!

      In the Argentinan province of San Juan, the government has authorized to develop what will be the most powerful solar energy park in Latin America. Already Brazil, Germany, and Spanish companies have been expected to invest in the project, which has an estimated price tag of $120 million, in which the provincial government of San Juan has agreed to invest $15 million to $20 million in the project.
      According to a Spanish news source Cronista, the solar park has been producing between 1500 and 2400 megawatts of energy, making it the biggest single producer of solar energy throughout all South American and Latin American countries.
       There is a landmark in Argentina that is also remarkable to many tourists; it is known as the Bueno Aires landmark, the solar-powered Floralis Generica. This landmark is a large metallic sculpture that opens its petals with the sun at morning and closes them at night. For a country that has not exploited its solar power potential to any great extent, it seems there is a promising future in terms of renewable energy for Argentina.

A Bueno Aires landmark, the solar-powered Floralis Generica