SunPower Corp. Achieves Record Solar Cell Efficiency

Published on: March 1, 2004

SunPower Corp. Solar Cell Achieves World Record Efficiency


National Renewable Energy Laboratory Verifies 21.5% Efficiency for A-300 Silicon Solar Cell


SunPower Corp., a subsidiary of Cypress Semiconductor Corp., announced its A-300 silicon solar cell has been measured at 21.5% efficiency by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado. This efficiency result is a world record for large-area (five-inch) silicon solar cells.


Manufactured in the company's Round Rock, Texas pilot line, the A-300 solar cell is significantly more efficient than available cells in the 12-15% range. Higher-efficiency solar cells provide solar power systems with more power-per-unit area and can provide users with significant cost savings.


A-300 solar cells use a back-side contact design that maximizes working cell area, hides unsightly connection wires and enables high-speed automated module production.


"This efficiency world record constitutes an important milestone for SunPower,demonstrating our technology can be successfully implemented in a high-volume production process," said Tom Werner, SunPower CEO.


The 125-mm, single-crystal A-300 cell generates three watts of electricity, providing the most efficient cost-per-watt solution in the photovoltaic (PV) industry. These cells can deliver more kilowatts per square meter, making these cells ideal for rooftop systems, communications, building-integrated PV systems and consumer applications.


SunPower is a majority-owned subsidiary of Cypress Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE: CY). The company designs and manufactures high-performance silicon solar cells based on an interdigitated rear-contact design.

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