Oxford PV Sets New Solar Panel Efficiency World Record
Oxford PV, a pioneer in next-generation solar technology, claims to have set a new record for the world's most efficient solar panel, marking a crucial milestone in the clean energy transition. Produced in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, the panel achieved a record 25% conversion efficiency, a significant increase on the more typical 21 to 23% efficiency of commercial modules. With solar power accounting for three-quarters of renewable capacity additions worldwide in 2023, increasing the efficiency of solar panels has transformative potential in the drive towards net zero and an allelectric future, the company states. "As the installation of solar power continues to gather pace, more efficient solar panels will generate more power over the same area, reducing the cost of electricity and further accelerating the adoption of clean energy."
Oxford PV, a spin-out of the University of Oxford, is according to its own statement "a world leader in the development of perovskite-onsilicon tandem solar cells, which have a theoretical maximum efficiency of over 43%, compared to less than 30% for silicon solar cells." "Our record-breaking solar panels demonstrate that we are on the cusp of the next solar revolution, which will be delivered, in part, by our tandem cell technology," says Chris Case, Chief Technology Officer at Oxford PV. 2024 is set to be a pivotal year for the company, as it scalesup manufacturing and continues to progress plans for a new factory to produce its tandem solar cells in high volumes. BM
Produced in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy, the panel achieved a 25% conversion efficiency.
Picture: Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems
European Innovators Launch GRAPHERGIA Project to Revolutionise Energy Harvesting
A consortium of eleven partners from six European nations has launched the GRAPHERGIA project, an ambitious 3.5-year research and innovation endeavour, funded by €4.5 million under the banner of Horizon Europe's Graphene Flagship initiative. Aimed at redefining the integration of energy solutions into everyday life, GRAPHERGIA is set to transform how we use and store energy. At the heart of GRAPHERGIA lies the goal to develop and deploy cutting-edge graphene-based materials into energy harvesting and storage devices. These advances will enable a scalable and cost-efficient production of two-dimensional (2D) material technologies for a wide array of applications. The project kicked off in November 2023 with a commitment to pioneering the domain of smart textiles. "We envision a world where your clothing does more than just look good. It powers your devices, acts as a sensor and connects you seamlessly to the Internet of Things (IoT)," says Prof. Spyros Yannopoulos, project coordinator. The second key area is the development of next-generation electrodes for Li-ion batteries. By leveraging the partners’ proprietary technologies, GRAPHERGIA aims to capitalise on the unique properties of 2D materials to enhance battery life and performance, all while maintaining an environmentally friendly footprint. Under the leadership of the Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas, GRAPHERGIA brings together European institutions from both research and industrial sectors. The consortium includes Pleione Energy GmbH (Germany), Adamant Composites Ltd. (Greece), Université Gustave Eiffel (France), Born GmbH Knitwear for Fashion and Engineering (Germany), Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza (Italy), Comsensus, DOO (Slovenia), Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (Germany), Next Technology Tecnotessile (Italy), AUSTRALO Interinnov Marketing Lab SL (Spain) and Euglottia IKE (Greece).
