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Solar startups set new power records

CNET -- If solar startups Alta Devices and Semprius were in the server business, one would be developing a deluxe high-powered server while the other would be stringing thousands of Linux boxes together. Both approaches, though, are showing promise at bringing the cost of solar power down.

Alta Devices today said it set the record for the most efficient solar cell, able to convert 23.5 percent of sunlight into electricity. The University of California at Berkeley spin-out said the efficiency mark, verified by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, is a step toward commercializing its novel solar technology.

The company is making solar cells from gallium arsenide, a very efficient material typically used on high-end concentrating photovoltaic collectors or solar panels in space.

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Submitted Feb 06, 2012 By: PhilMils

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joekayak All-Star Author Massachusetts Posts:756 Points:409,390 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Feb 6, 2012 8:05:56 PM Ignore joekayak Report Abuse Call me when it is at least 90% efficient and works out to .05 cents per watt.
Eliano Champion Author Baltimore Posts:1,406 Points:276,475 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Feb 6, 2012 5:44:44 PM Ignore Eliano Report Abuse good news... set its production here, no in china
peakkeller All-Star Author Colorado Springs Posts:958 Points:529,360 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Feb 6, 2012 4:39:07 PM Ignore peakkeller Report Abuse cool!
Joeski1 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:7,479 Points:1,381,735 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: Feb 6, 2012 4:36:47 PM Ignore Joeski1 Report Abuse awesome stuff! I turned an excellent 28.5 KwHrs today on my 5.29KW Pv system... that's better than $5 worth of energy produced just today @ our market rate of 19 cents per...
MidNJ Champion Author New Jersey Posts:5,500 Points:843,575 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Feb 6, 2012 3:39:31 PM Ignore MidNJ Report Abuse Solar is a relatively new technology and ongoing research will improve effeciency greatly while mass production will bring down prices.
BburgCW Champion Author Virginia Posts:1,829 Points:879,475 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Feb 6, 2012 3:33:20 PM Ignore BburgCW Report Abuse Cool technologies!
humblepie Champion Author Toledo Posts:17,405 Points:2,011,270 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Feb 6, 2012 1:45:30 PM Ignore humblepie Report Abuse also new subsidy records i bet, think solyndra x 2
Rockyguitar All-Star Author Tampa Posts:851 Points:874,445 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Feb 6, 2012 12:34:35 PM Ignore Rockyguitar Report Abuse I'll believe it when I see it.
kag2010 Champion Author Winnipeg Posts:3,420 Points:663,335 Joined:Apr 2010	Message Posted: Feb 6, 2012 11:10:00 AM Ignore kag2010 Report Abuse Just one big problem.
K9LO Champion Author North Dakota Posts:1,417 Points:307,940 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Feb 6, 2012 11:01:08 AM Ignore K9LO Report Abuse Get the price of the units down!!
RochBear Champion Author Minnesota Posts:9,123 Points:1,518,780 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Feb 6, 2012 10:41:22 AM Ignore RochBear Report Abuse 23.5 is pretty good. Mine are only 15%. But if you have the space, even 15% will generate a lot of power. If you filled the entire south facing half of your roof, You can take a huge bite out of your electric bill - maybe even have it go Negative.
vandamme Champion Author New York Posts:1,043 Points:120,685 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Feb 6, 2012 10:31:48 AM Ignore vandamme Report Abuse Just one big problem. These are concentrating cells, which need to be turned to the sun with a 2 axis tracking system. So, you can't just lay it flat on your roof. Also, efficiency is a nearly worthless figure of merit. The key metric is how much money you save over the lifetime of the system.
vtroger Veteran Author Vermont Posts:282 Points:292,405 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Feb 6, 2012 10:09:08 AM Ignore vtroger Report Abuse Solar panels are a great energy technology. But the big issue right now is the panels only last 10-20 years and are currently not recyclable.
JamesCalvin Champion Author Lancaster Posts:1,270 Points:163,050 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Feb 6, 2012 10:01:45 AM Ignore JamesCalvin Report Abuse Sounds exciting as we move towards energy independence!
bills299 Champion Author Atlanta Posts:1,562 Points:545,975 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Feb 6, 2012 9:46:42 AM Ignore bills299 Report Abuse Wow!!
bar1035 Champion Author Charlotte Posts:6,599 Points:939,120 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Feb 6, 2012 9:41:49 AM Ignore bar1035 Report Abuse Alta Devices must be a liar, since we saw a story here last week about cells with 33.9%. The first time over 1/3 efficent....
Van_Halen Champion Author Atlanta Posts:1,675 Points:334,155 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Feb 6, 2012 9:34:51 AM Ignore Van_Halen Report Abuse . Big deal. Call me when they get where they should be at over 90% efficiency. Because until they get well over 50%, they are just a novelty and will always take up too much space!
humblepie Champion Author Toledo Posts:17,405 Points:2,011,270 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Feb 6, 2012 9:14:34 AM Ignore humblepie Report Abuse china will have this for sale in no time flat
carnifolks Veteran Author New Jersey Posts:354 Points:352,385 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Feb 6, 2012 8:57:38 AM Ignore carnifolks Report Abuse it will take time but they will get it eventually
firemunkee Veteran Author Maryland Posts:408 Points:55,225 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Feb 6, 2012 8:48:48 AM Ignore firemunkee Report Abuse Now let's make solar more affordable for everyone!