Suntech cracks 20 percent solar efficiency

Suntech still has close links to UNSW

Suntech Power Holdings, the Chinese solar giant founded by University of NSW graduate Dr Shi Zhengrong, has announced its Pluto cell technology has set a world record of 20.3 percent efficiency for a production cell.
The efficiency level was achieved with standard commercial-grade p-type silicon wafers said the company, which is based in Wuxi, China.
The incremental innovation in Pluto cell technology was developed in collaboration with UNSW.
“This technology breakthrough marks another critical milestone in our effort to improve solar cell efficiency, which will ultimately make solar competitive with fossil fuels,” said Dr Stuart Wenham, who is Suntech’s Chief Technology Officer and also Director of the School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Engineering at UNSW.
The efficiency claims have been independently confirmed by the the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore.
The previous efficiency level of the first generation Pluto cell technology was 19.6 percent.
Suntech says it projects the efficiency of the improved Pluto cell will reach 21.0 percent in the next 6-12 months.