22.7% efficient PERL silicon solar cell module with a textured front surface

This paper describes a solar cell module efficiency of 22.7% independently measured at Sandia National Laboratories. This is the highest ever confirmed efficiency for a photovoltaic module of this size achieved by cells made from any material. This 778-cm² module used 40 large-area double layer antireflection coated PERL (passivated emitter, rear locally-diffused) silicon cells of average efficiency of 23.1%. A textured front module surface considerably improved the module efficiency. Also reported is an independently confirmed efficiency of 23.7% for a 21.6 cm² cell of the type used in the module. Using these PERL cells in the 1996 World Solar Challenge solar car race from Darwin to Adelaide across Australia, Honda´s Dream and Aisin Seiki´s Aisol III were placed first and third, respectively. Honda also set a new record by reaching Adelaide in four days with an average speed of 90 km/h over the 3010 km course