First Solar, a leading solar PV manufacturer in America, has set a world record for cadmium-telluride (CdTe) photovoltaic (PV) module conversion efficiency in tests performed by the U.S Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
The company has achieved a record 17.0 percent total area module efficiency in tests performed by the laboratory. The new record is an increase over the prior record of 16.1 percent efficiency, which the company set in April 2013.
First Solar recently also achieved a world record in CdTe research cell efficiency of 20.4 percent.
The First Solar research module also has a confirmed “aperture area” conversion efficiency of 17.5 percent.
Many manufacturers often quote this aperture area efficiency when claiming record performance, particularly for small mini-modules custom-built in R&D labs. First Solar’s record is all the more significant because it is full production size.
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“We can take CdTe innovation from the lab to production faster and more reliably than other technologies due to our robust, adaptable manufacturing processes and the accommodating nature of CdTe material technology,” said Raffi Garabedian, First Solar’s chief technology officer.
“Our R&D efforts are delivering technology that will quickly be scaled to real-world application as part of our integrated power plant systems, which are engineered to deliver the best performance, reliability and value for our customers,” Garabedian added.
“With the highest demonstrated thin-film module performance, we are positioned to pursue new deployment opportunities around the world,” Garabedian said.
First Solar has raised its lead-line production nameplate efficiency target for YE2015 to 15.6 to 15.8 percent. The company also extended its module conversion efficiency roadmap to 2017, with targets for year-end lead-line production nameplate efficiency of 17.7 to 18.4 percent in 2016 and 18.1 to 18.9 percent in 2017.