Converting Sunlight Into Electricity: European Project Breaks Efficiency Record
December 1, 2008
Scientists of the Commission-financed project FULLSPECTRUM have developed photovoltaic (PV) multi-junction (MJ) solar cells which are able to convert 39.7% of the energy of sun light into electricity. This is the highest percentage ever reached in Europe, according to researchers after their final workshop today in El Escorial, Spain.
The main barrier to large-scale deployment of PV systems is the high production cost of electricity, due to the significant capital investment costs. Research is engaged to reduce manufacturing costs and to raise the efficiency of the cells. Today conventional PV cells made of silicon are converting only a fraction of the solar light spectrum around 17%.
FULLSPECTRUM’s multi-junction solar cells are able to catch more sun light energy due to their composition of different materials, including gallium, phosphorus, indium and germanium. These multi-junction solar cells are expensive and have only been used for applications in space. However, the cost can be considerably reduced by arranging them in special panels which include lenses that focus a large amount of solar energy onto the cells. These concentrators can reach far above 1000 times the natural solar power flux and have also been the object of the project research.
FULLSPECTRUM is an integrated project involving 19 European public and industrial research centres from seven EU Member States, as well as Russia and Switzerland. It is coordinated by the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Instituto de Energía Solar and started in November 2003 with an overall budget of € 14,7 Million of with the European Commission financed € 8.4 Million.
Background
The European Commission has spent more than € 105 Million in research on photovoltaic energy since the start of Framework Programme 6 in 2002. Many of the projects are trying to get production costs of silicon solar cells down.
Energy research is constituent of the European Union Energy and Climate Package. One of its ambitious targets for 2020 is to increase by up to 20% the level of renewable energy in the EU’s overall final energy consumption. To reach this goal the European Commission started the Strategic Energy Technology (SET)-Plan.
The Solar Europe Industrial Initiative as part of the SET-Plan has recently elevated its target for the participation of photovoltaics in the European electricity demand by 2020 from 3% to 12%. This can be translated into installing from 350 up to 400 GW P (Gigawatt of peak capacity) in photovoltaics, corresponding to an average growth of ~40% per year from today’s situation.
Back in 2006, the total installed capacity of PV systems in the EU was 3,4 GW P , representing approximately 0,5% of the total EU electrical capacity. The electricity generated by PV was approximately 2,5 TWh (Terawatthour), or 0,1% of the demand. The annual installations of PV systems in 2006 in the EU reached 1250 Megawatt.
The European Commission has spent more than € 105 Million in research on photovoltaic energy since the start of Framework Programe 6 in 2002. they plan to save more than 20% of nonrenewable reasources by 2010. They beat the record for saving the most energy. they made a energy box thingy that are able to convert 39.7% of the energy of sun light into electricity. WOW! That is the highest percentage ever reached in Europe. That is my article.
Hey Mrs. Davis! This is my article summary:
~Scientists have developed photovoltaic multi-junction solar cells that are able to covert 39.7% of the energy of the sun into sunlight.
~The main barrier to large scale deployment of PV systems is the high cost of electricity.
~The scientists multi-junction solar cells are able to catch more sunlight energy due to their composition of different materials.
~The European commission has spent more than {105 million on research involving photovolaic energy.
~The Solar Europe Industrial Initiative as part of the SET-Plan has recently elevated its target for the participation of photovolaics in the European electricity demand by 2020 from 3% to 12%.
1. they developed a photovoltaic multijunction
2. europe never reached the highest percentage
3. there solar cells caught a lot of sunlight
4. these solar cells are very expensive they do not come cheap
Kyle Wolfe
12-1-2008
5P
Science Article
1. European scientists have made a solar cell which can change 39.7 % of energy from the sun into electricity.
2. Solar cells used now, are made up of silicon and can change 17% of energy from the sun into electricity.
3. The new solar cells are made up of gallium, phosphorus, indium, and germanium.
4. These new solar cells are expensive to make and their only customer has been the space administration.
5. The European Union Energy and Climate has a target date of 2020 to increase the use of renewable energy in Europe by 20 %.
1.)The European Commission has spent more than € 105 Million in research on photovoltaic energy since the start of Framework Programme 6 in 2002. Many of the projects are trying to get production costs of silicon solar cells down.
2.)Many of the projects are trying to get production costs of silicon solar cells down.
3.)The Solar Europe Industrial Initiative as part of the SET-Plan has recently elevated its target for the participation of photovoltaics in the European electricity demand by 2020 from 3% to 12%.
4.)Scientists of the Commission-financed project FULLSPECTRUM have developed photovoltaic (PV) multi-junction (MJ) solar cells which are able to convert 39.7% of the energy of sun light into electricity.
5.)Today conventional PV cells made of silicon are converting only a fraction of the solar light spectrum around 17%.
IT was really 8:59 when it was done and i sumbited not 9:59.
The time on my computer is messed up i swear.
Artical Summary for Dec 1st
In the project of FULL SPECTRUM the scientists have devoleped photovoltaic (PV) multi-junction (MJ) solar cells. These solar cells are able to convert 39.7% of the energy of sun light into electricity. This is the highest percentage ever got to in all of Europe. the FULL SPECTRUM multi-junction solar cells catch more sun light energy because their composition of different materials. These cells are expensive and have only been used for things in space but, the cost can be reduced by putting them in special panels which have lenses that focus a large amount of solar energy onto the cells.
Scientist in Europe have developed a photovoltaic (PV) multi-junction (MJ) solar cells.The solar cells job is to convert the suns light into energy. It is able to convert about 39.7% of energy.This percent is the highest ever in Europe!The project was very costly but helped with solar energy.
1. The Scientist Commission funded a project to research solar energy called FULLSPECTRUM involving 19 Eupopean research centers.
2. Researchers found a way to convert 39.7% of the solar energy into energy.
3. The method they founded is called photovoltaic(PV) multijunction (MJ) solar cells.
4.A major obstacle to producing this energy is that is is very costly.
5.The European Union is attempting to be using 20% ot their total energy consumption to be reusable.
Hey Mrs.Davis these are my 5 facts
*Scientists of the Commission finaced project FULLSPECTRUM have developed photovoltaic {PV} multijunction {MJ} solor cells.
*Theses solor cells are able to convert 39.7% of the energy of sun into electricity.
*PV cells made out of silicon are converting only a fraction of the solar light spectrum.
*The FULLSPECTRUM involves 19 European public and indrustrial research centres.
*The MJ solor cells are able to catch more sun light energy due to their composition of different materials.
-Julia Dailey <3 <3 <3