"It is very exciting to enter the final phase of the fabrication of third generation prototype of our powerful new solar cell," said Jim Nelson, CEO of Solar3D. "This effort has taken more time than our previous two prototypes because we are combining all the research and experimentation that we have utilized so far to create the best possible version of our technology. This final testing phase will assure that each element of the cell will be optimized to produce the maximum power."
The company’s technology team anticipates that its third generation prototype will be less expensive to manufacture and result in more powerful performance than the previous versions.
The initial 2012 prototype design was calculated to produce just over 25% efficiency, the highest of any silicon solar cell. Even more important was an originally unanticipated feature — wide-angle light collection — allowing for the generation of electricity throughout more times of the days and seasons.
This feature increases the length of time during which light can be effectively converted into electricity, relative to current technology. Current technology is most effective for a few hours in the middle of the day.
Changwan Son, Director of Technology, commented, "It is a complex process to get all of the elements to work together perfectly. But once we have refined the process, we believe that the Solar3D Cell can be produced using high-speed manufacturing processes in existing facilities that will replicate the harmony of the elements. By combining low cost manufacturing and high conversion efficiency, we hope to make solar power affordable for a variety of applications."
Nelson concluded, "This is the ultimate mission of Solar3D: to provide affordable solar power to the world. We are getting closer to having a Solar3D Cell that will allow us to accomplish our mission. It is exciting to see that light at the end of our tunnel."
