Sunpower claims silicon solar cell breakthrough

According to Sunpower, which Cypress Semi has a 57 per cent share in, the A300 solar cell uses a rear contact design and has 20 per cent efficiency, beating current cells which have between 12 to 15 per cent efficiency.

The cell, pictured here, measures 125mm and is a single crystal unit which can manage 3kW in less than 17 square metres.

Sunpower cells have already been used in high performance products like the NASA Helios solar plane, the company said.

The cells will be available in limited quantities during the second half of this year, and will go into mass production next year, the firm said. µ