+44 (0)24 7671 8970
More publications     •     Advertise with us     •     Contact us
 
News Article

Soloptics Increases Thin-Film Solar Cell Efficiency By Over 10%

The Colorado based firm has announced that the U.S. DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has tested its FUSION product and found it to deliver conversion efficiency gains ranging from 10-12.5% depending on testing conditions.

Soloptics, has announced results from recent performance testing at the U.S. Department of Energy's NREL division for ‘FUSION’, its patent-pending photovoltaic enhancement technology.

Soloptics is a division of Genie Lens Technologies, a specialist in innovative applied optics and light ray management solutions. Its latest product, FUSION, is an optics-based surface technology that substantially increases the conversion efficiency of both new and existing photovoltaic (PV) panels in an effort to lower the cost of electricity generated by solar photovoltaics.

FUSION’s technology utilizes microstructures that can be embossed or cast into either a thin polymer film and then adhered to a PV panel, either in the factory or in the field, or engineered directly into the protective glass layer utilized in most PV panels produced today.

In tests performed by NREL at its Golden, Colorado research campus, FUSION delivered conversion efficiency gains ranging from 10-12.5 % depending on testing conditions. FUSION achieved these gains regardless of the underlying PV material for less than $0.10/watt (installed cost).

"The FUSION product shows significant improvement in the PV current over existing technology, particularly under various low level lighting conditions," said Keith Emery, Principal Research Supervisor at the Outdoor Test Facility, NREL’s laboratory to characterize the performance and reliability of PV cells, modules, and small systems.

“We are thrilled with the results generated from the recent FUSION testing at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory,” added Genie Lens CEO Seth Weiss. “Clearly, this is monumental for Genie Lens’ patent-pending technology, but also for the growth of the solar industry as a whole.”

FUSION’s gains in efficiency are amplified by its low cost, driven primarily by its integration into existing glass and plastic film manufacturing processes and its use of readily available and inexpensive materials.

In addition, FUSION is claimed to be the only efficiency boosting technology whose application process can take place in the field -- for the film version -- or at the production facility, and the installation does not require expensive specialized equipment or labor. FUSION can also be customized based on various factors such as higher/lower diffuse light conditions, specific panel manufacturers, or to filter out specific wavelengths of light.

“We are fortunate to have NREL, the gold standard for PV testing and verification, as a strategic partner who also happens to be in our backyard,” said Genie Lens President Melissa Grossman. “We look forward to ongoing testing and development with their assistance.”
×
Search the news archive

To close this popup you can press escape or click the close icon.
×
  • 1st January 1970
  • 1st January 1970
  • 1st January 1970
  • 1st January 1970
  • View all news 22645 more articles
Logo
×
Register - Step 1

You may choose to subscribe to the Compound Semiconductor Magazine, the Compound Semiconductor Newsletter, or both. You may also request additional information if required, before submitting your application.


Please subscribe me to:

 

You chose the industry type of "Other"

Please enter the industry that you work in:
Please enter the industry that you work in: