Kyocera's Cells Achieve 18.5% Energy Conversion Efficiency

Scottsdale, Arizona [RenewableEnergyAccess.com] Kyocera announced that it has achieved 18.5% energy conversion efficiency for a 15 cm x 15 cm multicrystalline silicon solar cell. Kyocera's other recent efficiency benchmarks were achieved by optimizing the cell's grid-line configuration and by texturing the cell's surface using the company's proprietary "d.Blue" process, which maximizes sunlight collection by reducing reflectivity. The latest improvement is the result of increasing the amount of light intercepted by the cell by moving the front contacts to the back of the cell; the energy conversion efficiency is said to be a new world record.