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Post Info TOPIC: Australian technology start-up creates world's most efficient solar cell while replacing silver with copper
dorian


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Australian technology start-up creates world's most efficient solar cell while replacing silver with copper
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Australian technology start-up creates world's most efficient solar cell while replacing silver with copper:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-21/australian-start-up-creates-world-s-most-efficient-solar-cell/100476152

 

An Australian solar company has created the world's most efficient commercial-sized solar cell.

The company uses copper instead of silver to manufacture their solar cells because it is cheaper and more abundant.

Ten years ago, commercial-sized solar cells had an efficiency rating of about 14 to 16 per cent.

Mr Allen's company Sundrive has created a cell with 25.54 per cent efficiency ...

Mr Allen says the practical efficiency limit of a commercial-sized solar cell is about 27 per cent, meaning the technology is getting close to its efficiency limit.



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Peter_n_Margaret


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In most applications, efficiency is not the criteria that is important, commercially, it is $s per watt, unless the area available is limited.
Improving efficiency is likely to eventually reduce cost per watt though, so is always good to see.
There is huge money being spent on R&D to develop better renewable energy, so we can continue to expect new developments like this.
Exciting times.
Cheers,
Peter



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Warren-Pat_01


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G'day Dorian,
It must be 15-20 years ago (in John Howard's reign) that the University of NSW combined with the CEO of the Chinese company Suntech to produce a new panel that gave greater efficiencies - by the way the silicon was cut.

The company formed by the university was called Pacific Solar but our dearly beloved politicians had no liking of solar. I recall both Howard & Turnbull saying "it doesn't work when the sun doesn't shine." (Telstra & I guess other organisations had been using solar from the late 70s - I know Telstra used both BP Solar & Solarex panels). And they refused the university permission to manufacture the panels here (it was on 4Corners), so the technology was sold to Germany, probably for a pittance!
Unfortunately Suntech became a victim of the cheap manufacturers!
And German cells are highly respected these days!

Australia has always had a good reputation of R&D - however getting financial backing (& political clout) has always been lacking!

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peatop


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When I was at Uni doing Mech Eng we used to do factory visits and most of the development done here was sold to foreign companies :( I don't understand why we sell our greatest assets to foreign companies? does our gov just want us to be poor? lol



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Buzz Lightbulb


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Our Federal Government is not interested in anyone developing new technologies if their mates (those who line the politicians' pockets) aren't benefiting. The government is only interested in keeping the super rich rich and all other Australians contributing to those rich people. 



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dorian


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I digress, but this was an Aussie startup that is now valued at AU$55 billion.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canva

Has anyone heard of them?

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