Urja Daily
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Renewable
    • Solar
    • Rooftop
    • Floating Solar
    • Module
    • Wind
    • Hydrogen
    • Biomass
    • Tenders
    • Sustainibility
  • Storage
  • E-Mobility
  • EV Battery
  • Smart City
  • Power
    • Smart Grid
    • Microgrid
    • Off-Grid
  • Editor’s Pick
    • Articles
    • In Talks
    • E-MAG
    • Market Research
  • On-demand Webinars
  • More
    • Events
    • Contact Us
    • Subscribe
  • News
  • Renewable
    • Solar
    • Rooftop
    • Floating Solar
    • Module
    • Wind
    • Hydrogen
    • Biomass
    • Tenders
    • Sustainibility
  • Storage
  • E-Mobility
  • EV Battery
  • Smart City
  • Power
    • Smart Grid
    • Microgrid
    • Off-Grid
  • Editor’s Pick
    • Articles
    • In Talks
    • E-MAG
    • Market Research
  • On-demand Webinars
  • More
    • Events
    • Contact Us
    • Subscribe
No Result
View All Result
Urja Daily
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Sharp Achieves Conversion Efficiency of 32.65% in Lightweight, Flexible Solar Module

Urja Daily by Urja Daily
June 7, 2022
in News, Solar
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Sharp
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linkedin

Sharp Corporation has achieved a conversion efficiency of 32.65%, the world’s highest, in a lightweight, flexible, practically sized solar module developed as part of the “Research and Development of Solar Cells for Use in Vehicles” project*3, which is administered by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) of Japan.

The module’s conversion efficiency bests that of a similar Sharp module developed under another NEDO project in 2016, which notched an efficiency of 31.17%, at the time a world record. The new prototype solar module, which uses a triple-junction compound design*4, is both lightweight and flexible thanks to its structure, which sandwiches the solar cell between layers of film. As a result, the module is expected to be used in a variety of vehicles, an application that demands high efficiency and lightweight construction.

RELATED POSTS

World Bank and IAEA Ink Pact to Promote Safe Nuclear Energy in Developing Nations

COMAU Unveils Innovative N-WG Welding Gun at Automatica 2025

Sharp will continue to conduct R&D into more efficient, lower-cost solar modules with a view to their use in applications including electric vehicles (EVs) and aerospace. The design, which embodies one path towards achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles.

*1 As of June 6, 2022, for solar modules at the research level (based on a survey by Sharp).

*2 Conversion efficiency confirmed by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST; one of several organizations around the world that officially certifies energy conversion efficiency measurements in solar cells) in February 2022. (Module surface approx. 965 square centimeters; maximum output 31.51 W)

*3 Project name: Development of Technologies to Promote Photovoltaic Power Generation as a Primary Power Source; Development of Technologies for Creating New Markets for Photovoltaic Power Generation; Research and Development of Solar Cells for Use in Vehicles (Development of Technologies for Super-high-efficiency Modules)
Project dates: FY2020 to FY2022 (with possible extension to FY2024)

*4 A type of solar cell that achieves high conversion efficiency by incorporating three photo-absorption layers made of compounds consisting of two or more elements, for example indium, gallium, and arsenic, such that each layer absorbs light of a different wavelength.

Development Background

Efforts to introduce electrified vehicles as a way to lower CO2 emissions and address air pollution are accelerating in the transportation industry, which relies on fossil fuels to meet most of its energy demands. The prospect of supplying power derived from renewable energy is attracting high expectations as an approach with the potential to maximize the effectiveness of those vehicles. In addition, power derived from renewable energy can be supplied directly by equipping EVs with solar cells, promising to make them more convenient for users, for example by lowering fuel costs and reducing the number of times they require charging.
Against this backdrop, Sharp has been developing high-efficiency, low-cost solar modules that can conform to the curved surfaces of vehicles for use in a broad range of vehicles, including in standard EV and aerospace applications, by 2050. This time, Sharp succeeded in developing a lightweight, flexible solar module with a conversion efficiency of 32.65%, the world’s highest.

■ Results

1.  Development of a light, flexible solar module

Whereas modules to date have sandwiched solar cells between two sheets of glass, Sharp was able to achieve a lightweight, flexible module by switching to a structure in which the cells are sandwiched between sheets of thin film. Modules measuring about 29 by 34 centimeters (for an area of 965 square centimeters), a size which is large enough to be commercially viable, weigh only about 56 grams (0.58 kilograms per square meter).

2. Achievement of the world’s highest conversion efficiency

Sharp’s triple-junction compound solar cell adopts a proprietary structure that comprises three photo-absorption layers with indium gallium arsenide as the bottom layer so that sunlight can be efficiently converted into electricity. Smaller cells using this structure (with an area of 1.047 square centimeters) achieved a conversion efficiency of 37.9% in April 2013. Then in 2016, Sharp used practically sized cells (with an area of 27.86 square centimeters) to create a composite module (with an area of 968 square centimeters) to achieve a conversion efficiency of 31.17%, at the time the world’s highest.
In this project, Sharp increased the average conversion efficiency of its triple-junction compound solar cells (with an area of 22.88 square centimeters) from the 2016 modules (from about 34.5% to about 36%) and improved the cell fill factor on each module to improve the conversion efficiency for a practically sized module (with an area of 965 square centimeters) to 32.65%.

Tags: Sharpsolar cellsolar module
ShareTweetShare
Urja Daily

Urja Daily

Related Posts

World Bank

World Bank and IAEA Ink Pact to Promote Safe Nuclear Energy in Developing Nations

by Palak
June 28, 2025
0

The World Bank has signed a memorandum of understanding with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to advance the safe...

COMAU N-WG Welding Gun

COMAU Unveils Innovative N-WG Welding Gun at Automatica 2025

by Palak
June 27, 2025
0

Comau’s patented, modular solution is designed to reduce total cost of ownership through improved efficiency and lower operating costs The...

Meta

Meta Signs EAPAs with Adapture Renewables for 360 MW Solar Project in Texas

by Palak
June 27, 2025
0

Adapture Renewables has executed two environmental attributes purchase agreements (EAPAs) with Meta. The agreements total 360 MW across two solar...

JSW Energy

JSW Energy Inks PPA with NHPC for 300 MW Solar-Wind Hybrid Project

by Palak
June 27, 2025
0

JSW Energy Limited, through it’s subsidiary Energizent Power Private Limited has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with NHPC Limited...

JSW Ventures

StayVista Raises Over INR 40 Cr in Funding Round Led by JSW Ventures

by Palak
June 27, 2025
0

Mumbai (India) : StayVista has raised over INR 40 Cr in Series B funding, led by JSW Ventures, with participation...

Next Post
Tata Power EZ charging

Kolte-Patil, Tata Power to set up Charging Stations in Pune

Dr Abhilasha Gaur

Learn how to be Robotic Automation Lead Design Specialist

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

RECOMMENDED

THDC

THDC Inks Deals for 184.08 MW Green Power Supply from Tehri PSP

June 28, 2025
World Bank

World Bank and IAEA Ink Pact to Promote Safe Nuclear Energy in Developing Nations

June 28, 2025

MOST VIEWED

  • Hydrom

    Hydrom and Thyssenkrupp Nucera Partner for Green Hydrogen Projects in Oman

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • SFC India Selected Dassault Systèmes for Indigenization and Digital Transformation of Wastewater Treatment Plants

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Juniper Green Energy Secures 1 GW Solar Module Deal with First Solar

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • PGCIL Wins ISTS Project for Renewable Energy Integration in Karnataka

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

THDC Inks Deals for 184.08 MW Green Power Supply from Tehri PSP

World Bank and IAEA Ink Pact to Promote Safe Nuclear Energy in Developing Nations

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Partners with Ohmium to Advance Green Hydrogen Solutions in India

NSE Waives Transaction Charges on Electricity Futures Until December 2025

COMAU Unveils Innovative N-WG Welding Gun at Automatica 2025

An Exclusive Interview with Rachna Kango | Delta Electronics India Private Limited

Latest Magazine

© 2016 – 2025 TechZone Print Media | All Rights Reserved

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Renewable
    • Solar
    • Rooftop
    • Floating Solar
    • Module
    • Wind
    • Hydrogen
    • Biomass
    • Tenders
    • Sustainibility
  • Storage
  • E-Mobility
  • EV Battery
  • Smart City
  • Power
    • Smart Grid
    • Microgrid
    • Off-Grid
  • Editor’s Pick
    • Articles
    • In Talks
    • E-MAG
    • Market Research
  • On-demand Webinars
  • More
    • Events
    • Contact Us
    • Subscribe

© 2016 - 2025 TechZone Print Media | All Rights Reserved