Boeing readies terrestrial CPV solar cell for mass production

The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) subsidiary Spectrolab has started mass production of its newest terrestrial solar cell, the C3MJ+. With an average conversion efficiency of 39.2%, C3MJ+ is essentially based on a test cell that reached 41.6% efficiency.

(November 24, 2010) -- The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) subsidiary Spectrolab has started mass production of its newest terrestrial solar cell, the C3MJ+. With an average conversion efficiency of 39.2%, C3MJ+ is essentially based on a test cell that reached 41.6% efficiency.

The concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) cells draw on Spectrolab's solar cell manufacturing expertise for space and terrestrial applications and are an improvement on the C3MJ cells currently in production, which convert 38.5% solar energy.

"These more efficient cells are drawing interest from a number of current and potential customers," said Russ Jones, Spectrolab director of CPV Business Development. Last year, Spectrolab hit efficiency with a test cell that peaked at 41.6%. The new cell in production uses essentially this same technology. The company plans to deliver the first of these 39.2% efficiency cells in January. "Given the new cells' close similarity to our existing production cells, we believe that our current C3MJ customers will be able to easily upgrade for more efficiency," Jones added.

Spectrolab has introduced mass production of a new series of solar cells with increased energy-conversion efficiency each year since 2007. The current C3MJ series entered production in mid-2009. More than 2 million C3MJ cells have been sold to customers around the world.

Spectrolab supplies multi-junction photovoltaic solar cells, solar panels, searchlights and solar simulators. A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses. Learn more at http://www.boeing.com/.