Initial test bed for Very High Efficiency Solar Cell

Very High Efficiency Solar Cell (VHESC) program is developing integrated optical system—photovoltaic modules for portable applications that operate at greater than 50 percent efficiency. We are integrating the optical design with the solar cell design, and we have entered previously unoccupied design space [1]. A test bed for rapid development and verification of performance of subsystems is also being developed. The results and analysis of the first complete integrated optics and solar cells on this test bed are reported. The demonstration has achieved efficiency greater than 36%. Analysis shows a direct path to efficiencies greater than 40%. These initial results have not been verified by NREL or any other 3^rd party. We have previously reported the sum of the solar cell efficiencies to be over 42%, and optical subsystem efficiency greater than 93% [2]. Our approach is driven by proven quantitative models for the solar cell design, the optical design and the integration of the two.