Energy: photovoltaic panels with record efficiency

Today's innovation could give us new weapons in the energy transition.

We have just beaten a new record in terms of efficiency of photovoltaic panels.

It is incredible how quickly we are able to increase the performance of solar panels today.

Five years ago, we had yields of barely 13-14% (only 14% of the sun's rays were converted into electricity).

Two years ago, we went up to 25%.

And today, a new record: scientists from the HZB in Germany have just reached the magic barrier of 30%.

Why magic?

Because the maximum theoretical efficiency of a solar panel is 35%.

We have never been so close.

All of these optimizations have the advantage of lowering the cost of solar energy.

In ten years, it has collapsed by 82%.

The largest drop among all renewable energies (IRENA).

But if we approach the theoretical maximum, does that mean that, from now on, prices will stagnate?

No, because we have already found the solution.

We are going to rely on a new material, even more efficient, called perovskite (a kind of crystal).

We will use it in superimposed layers, to capture an even larger portion of the light spectrum.

This would push back the maximum theoretical yield to 68%, double the current limit.

So potentially, the cost of solar power could be halved again in the next few years.

This means that there will be need for fewer panels to always have more electricity.

It is an energy that will become more and more interesting.

Now it remains to be able to store it when it is dark and for days of bad weather.