News and New Products

Sanyo develops HIT solar cells with 23% energy-conversion efficiency

-- EDN, 5/22/2009 6:00:00 AM

Sanyo Electric Co Ltd. has announced that it has broken its own record for energy conversion efficiency in practical size (100 cm² or more) crystalline silicon-type solar cells, achieving a efficiency of 23.0%—up from 22.3%—for its proprietary HIT (heterojunction with intrinsic thin layer) solar photovoltaic cells.

Sanyo reported the development is part of the effort to expand its solar business, based on its “Think GAIA” branding. The company also said the increase in the solar cell conversion efficiency this time is accompanied by advances that will lower the production cost of the photovoltaic systems and will reduce the use of raw materials such as silicon. The company’s HIT solar cell is composed of a single thin crystalline silicon wafer sandwiched by ultra-thin amorphous silicon layers.

The company describes the structure and operation of the HIT devices here.