A new silicon-based solar panel which utilizes holographic foil is reported to be nearly twice as efficient as standard panels. Referred to as a “game-changing technology,” the panels were developed by the Dresden-based Apollon GmbH&Co.KG and Solar Bankers LLC from Arizona. The technology is based on holographic optics which allow the new solar modules to be manufactured at a much lower cost than conventional solar panels.
The system can achieve 28 percent efficiency, which is significantly higher than the average 17 efficiency of currently used solar panels, according to the company. The holographic foil is printed on the cover glass and filters the sunlight. The distance between optic and solar cell is only a few millimeters and filters only the desirable wavelengths of the light. The sunlight is then concentrated on the solar cells, preventing significant energy losses. Thanks to the printing process, modules can be cheaply duplicated, thus saving time and resources.
“Our solution addresses the major downsides that make today’s photovoltaic (PV) technologies unprofitable. These disadvantages arise mainly from the material silicon as well as from efficiency losses, which result e.g. through heat occurring from concentration,” said Alfred Jost, CEO of Solar Bankers.
The new technology continues to use silicon as the solar cell material. However, the amount of silicon in the new modules account for less than three percent of the total module area. “With the holographic optic a 20- to 30-times concentration of the desirable wavelengths of the light makes a silicon needs reduction by over 90 % compared to the amount of silicon used in standard solar modules possible”, explained Jost.
+Solar Bankers LLC
Via Clean Technica
Images ©MEDIENKONTOR
