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Concentrated Solar Startup Sets a New Efficiency Record

technology review, published by MIT -- Semprius, a startup that makes miniscule solar cells capable of capturing concentrated sunlight without costly cooling systems, announced this week that it had made the world's most efficient solar panel.

The company's solar panels use tiny solar cells made of gallium arsenide—the record-breaking solar module contains hundreds of such solar cells, each about the width of a line drawn by a ball-point pen, arranged under lenses that concentrate sunlight 1,100 times.

Gallium arsenide is far better at absorbing sunlight than silicon, the material used in most solar cells, but it's also more expensive. Furthermore, although concentrated solar modules use less semiconducting material, they usually require expensive optics, cooling systems, and tracking systems to keep them aimed at the sun.

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Submitted Feb 04, 2012 By: NHLiveFree

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anascom All-Star Author Hamilton Posts:865 Points:316,340 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Feb 5, 2012 10:49:33 PM Ignore anascom Report Abuse amazing technology advancement!
teafortwo Champion Author Washington Posts:16,962 Points:1,023,580 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Feb 5, 2012 7:32:56 PM Ignore teafortwo Report Abuse BIG OIL & GAS love us It is always good news to hear about increased efficiency in solar. Once you have your equipment? Mother Nature gives free energy refills. Thanks for sharing the good news NHLiveFree; And always remember BIG OIL & GAS love us
AnObserver Champion Author New Jersey Posts:6,725 Points:1,932,310 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 6:32:24 PM Ignore AnObserver Report Abuse Technology unleashing the promise of solar energy
sluggopyle Champion Author North Carolina Posts:22,767 Points:1,052,300 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 4:40:28 PM Ignore sluggopyle Report Abuse => In response sluggo... ck this - www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/miniscule The adjective minuscule is etymologically related to minus, but associations with mini- have produced the spelling variant miniscule. This variant dates to the ... Time to update sluggo... <= Sorry, I don't update for errors, regardless how popular. Or as they used to say in grade school, "if everybody else jumped in the lake would you jump in too?". The fact is MIT spelled it wrong. "Miniscule" might better describe an educational institute where one goes to learn to drive a car like the one in my avatar. Hey, SOMEBODY has to hold down the linguistic fort... ;-) [Edited by: sluggopyle at 2/4/2012 6:44:40 PM EST]
apiergallini Veteran Author North Carolina Posts:347 Points:161,910 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:51:57 PM Ignore apiergallini Report Abuse Every new development is another step in the right direction. Crawl, walk, run.
Eliano Champion Author Baltimore Posts:1,396 Points:272,175 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:27:21 PM Ignore Eliano Report Abuse cool, any add up on efficiency is simple cool !
Anddy_viper888 Sophomore Author New York Posts:195 Points:10,545 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:01:48 PM Ignore Anddy_viper888 Report Abuse I already have got a wrist-watch with a solar battery :)
TXRanger09 Champion Author Dallas Posts:1,405 Points:627,015 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:56:17 AM Ignore TXRanger09 Report Abuse And solar panels take another big step.
Night Owl Champion Author Toronto Posts:5,770 Points:1,432,625 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:50:30 AM Ignore Night Owl Report Abuse Let's hope this technology makes it into the real world and lowers prices.
SilentpartnerMN Champion Author Minnesota Posts:1,355 Points:293,900 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:39:56 AM Ignore SilentpartnerMN Report Abuse If it is economically feasible, it will sell. Hopefully, not subsidized by our government.
melvindale All-Star Author Michigan Posts:773 Points:191,790 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:18:15 AM Ignore melvindale Report Abuse They should include estimates of costs and notes to installation. Such as most PV panels lay flat on existing roof tops, whereas these look to be mounted on a pole. I don't see that working out for most homeowners, but the electric company can put them on top of existing utility poles - reducing the transmission loss of power due to concentrated sources providing a large area.
k2kipp Champion Author Minnesota Posts:1,605 Points:836,990 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:13:50 AM Ignore k2kipp Report Abuse Still all about cost.
CiVX Champion Author Oakland Posts:6,153 Points:1,110,130 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:09:54 AM Ignore CiVX Report Abuse Thats hot, I'm sure.
bar1035 Champion Author Charlotte Posts:6,570 Points:934,145 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:03:25 AM Ignore bar1035 Report Abuse "Certified the efficiency of Semprius's solar panel at 33.9 percent, marking the first time any solar module has been able to convert more than one-third of the sunlight that falls on it into electricity" - woohoo Nobody ever talks about needing a bunch of very expensive batteries or a friendly local utility
briinnc Champion Author North Carolina Posts:1,085 Points:571,485 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:01:49 AM Ignore briinnc Report Abuse The Chinese will put them out of business soon
blazerbob91 Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:4,345 Points:1,527,240 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:00:12 AM Ignore blazerbob91 Report Abuse Obama loan them some money
viperahul Veteran Author Oakland Posts:463 Points:310,360 Joined:Feb 2006	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:00:00 AM Ignore viperahul Report Abuse +1 for Solar!
hibsaw Champion Author Mississippi Posts:6,192 Points:1,316,890 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:59:24 AM Ignore hibsaw Report Abuse Sounds promising. Keep working on it.
oldiesman Champion Author New York Posts:4,716 Points:1,859,755 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:59:16 AM Ignore oldiesman Report Abuse Good luck to them!
LasJayhawk All-Star Author Las Vegas Posts:705 Points:229,610 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:58:41 AM Ignore LasJayhawk Report Abuse We have used this stuff for high frequency FET's for years, and in LED production as well. There seems to be hope for this, or this may lead to the next big breakthrough.
methaneman Champion Author Minnesota Posts:2,140 Points:1,175,425 Joined:May 2002	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:58:06 AM Ignore methaneman Report Abuse Lets see how all this works out!
ctcowboy Sophomore Author Connecticut Posts:110 Points:23,710 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:57:35 AM Ignore ctcowboy Report Abuse More science breakthroughs - love it!
armstrmb Champion Author Houston Posts:8,553 Points:1,725,055 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:56:39 AM Ignore armstrmb Report Abuse So we changed the site name to Solar Panel Buddy?
Badmoon Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:6,453 Points:1,286,415 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:56:37 AM Ignore Badmoon Report Abuse Sounds promising.
WebGabe All-Star Author Pennsylvania Posts:507 Points:131,830 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:56:33 AM Ignore WebGabe Report Abuse More subsidies, here we come...
waynemustang Champion Author Indiana Posts:5,034 Points:1,330,475 Joined:Nov 2006	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:56:09 AM Ignore waynemustang Report Abuse Good, but it still is not profitable.
hamdriver Champion Author Lansing Posts:2,150 Points:1,033,735 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:55:34 AM Ignore hamdriver Report Abuse SWEET!
orcar Champion Author Boise Posts:1,854 Points:521,260 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:54:58 AM Ignore orcar Report Abuse Beter get a loan from the gov't.
rwrMO Champion Author Missouri Posts:1,218 Points:317,130 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:53:57 AM Ignore rwrMO Report Abuse sun is not out, what will it look at?
Dennisjk Champion Author Detroit Posts:4,989 Points:1,589,225 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:53:36 AM Ignore Dennisjk Report Abuse Another investment for Obama.
fenster66 Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:1,493 Points:308,940 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:51:59 AM Ignore fenster66 Report Abuse lets see how they do on a large scale...
katiek9 Sophomore Author Ontario Posts:222 Points:32,765 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:51:59 AM Ignore katiek9 Report Abuse ok
HawaiianGuy Champion Author Idaho Posts:7,685 Points:2,719,050 Joined:May 2003	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:51:21 AM Ignore HawaiianGuy Report Abuse And how much are the taxpayers going to lose this time? Instead of waiting for bankruptcy, let's try now and identify which Obama-contributor heads THIS soon-to-fail company.
dieselme2011 Champion Author British Columbia Posts:1,070 Points:296,640 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:50:49 AM Ignore dieselme2011 Report Abuse Good keep it in North America
Digger52 All-Star Author Chicago Posts:597 Points:494,620 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:50:21 AM Ignore Digger52 Report Abuse Good news
StrangeLuv Champion Author Kansas City Posts:1,891 Points:541,590 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:50:13 AM Ignore StrangeLuv Report Abuse Cool.
gasper Champion Author Edmonton Posts:3,159 Points:1,068,915 Joined:Mar 2002	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:49:37 AM Ignore gasper Report Abuse OK I got it better than and later they will have again better than.
LQQKGAS Champion Author Phoenix Posts:1,463 Points:848,085 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:49:31 AM Ignore LQQKGAS Report Abuse Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy !
arnerator Champion Author Seattle Posts:6,337 Points:1,254,585 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:48:51 AM Ignore arnerator Report Abuse Let's hope that China stays away from this one. Keep the jobs at home.
zimowski Champion Author San Jose Posts:4,835 Points:1,221,585 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:48:11 AM Ignore zimowski Report Abuse Solar needs to be affordable.
YodaON Champion Author Ottawa Posts:1,131 Points:418,950 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:48:06 AM Ignore YodaON Report Abuse They will get better and cheaper
1Casey Champion Author Albany Posts:5,000 Points:1,510,080 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:46:27 AM Ignore 1Casey Report Abuse Good job, keep working on it.
TNT2EC Champion Author Wisconsin Posts:3,268 Points:1,169,800 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:45:50 AM Ignore TNT2EC Report Abuse Good Job!!
SkyWarnTX All-Star Author Texas Posts:945 Points:56,845 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:44:34 AM Ignore SkyWarnTX Report Abuse Well there you go...
esorsd Champion Author St. Louis Posts:4,003 Points:1,287,215 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:43:27 AM Ignore esorsd Report Abuse According to the AAA website, the average price for regular unleaded in St. Louis this morning is $3.356 per gallon, down 0.6 cents from yesterday.
SnickersDog Champion Author Denver Posts:1,442 Points:316,585 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:42:17 AM Ignore SnickersDog Report Abuse Buy American made.
WhiteTreeIndian Champion Author New Jersey Posts:3,863 Points:765,695 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:42:12 AM Ignore WhiteTreeIndian Report Abuse Natural solutions are best.
divebomber Champion Author Nebraska Posts:4,224 Points:1,446,225 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:42:09 AM Ignore divebomber Report Abuse I WOULD LOVE THSES ON MY ROOF IN AZ.!
doggod Champion Author Anchorage Posts:1,057 Points:386,260 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:42:03 AM Ignore doggod Report Abuse >> Carr thinks Semprius can generate solar power for less than 10 cents per kilowatt-hour, low enough to get a share of the utility market in many areas. What's more, he says it can do this without the help of government subsidies. << If he's right, they're onto something.
vjs3 All-Star Author Denver Posts:730 Points:286,535 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 9:41:23 AM Ignore vjs3 Report Abuse Keep working on it & find a less expensive answer.