News

21 May 2009

 

Cyrium claims record efficiencies for commercially manufactured multi-junction solar cells

Cyrium Technologies Inc of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada claims that its multi-junction solar cells now offer the highest efficiencies available for commercially manufactured products.

The firm says that its first generation solar cells offer efficiencies of 40% or higher, together with a nearly constant conversion efficiency for solar concentrations from 200 to greater than 1000 suns, and adds that this sets a new standard for solar cells intended for use in the Concentrator Photovoltaic (CPV) industry.

“Cyrium is pleased to set new performance standards for the solar cell suppliers to the Concentrator Photovoltaic (CPV) industry,” said Dr Simon Fafard, founder and CTO of Cyrium Technologies. “We believe the exceptional performance of our cells will enhance CPV’s business case and is a key to moving the cost of renewable solar energy toward grid parity.”

Cyrium anticipates that its second generation cells will achieve 43% efficiency within one year, while third generation cells are targeted to be at 45% within two years.

“The most outstanding feature of Cyrium’s approach is an optimized design for multi-junction cells that does not add complexity or cost. These super-efficient cells employ Cyrium’s unique quantum dot technology to modify the internal structure of the semiconductor material creating improved efficiencies over conventional multi-junction or other manufacturing techniques,” Fafard adds.

The firm is proceeding with small volume manufacturing and qualification of its current generation of solar cells, which are available now to qualified CPV clients for evaluation.

See related items:

Fraunhofer ISE raises multi-junction solar cell efficiency record to 41.1%

NREL sets solar cell efficiency record of 40.8%

Cyrium closes second-round funding to boost multi-junction solar cell production

Cyrium increases funding to CDN$5.5m; adds ex-SDL VP as CEO

Search: Cyrium Multi-junction solar cells

Visit: www.cyriumtechnologies.com