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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:886 Points:320,340 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Feb 6, 2012 12:49:33 AM Ignore anascom Report Abuse amazing technology advancement!
teafortwo Champion Author Washington Posts:17,018 Points:1,027,355 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Feb 5, 2012 9:32:56 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:6,740 Points:1,935,335 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 8:32:24 PM Ignore AnObserver Report Abuse Technology unleashing the promise of solar energy
sluggopyle Champion Author North Carolina Posts:22,794 Points:1,052,870 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 6:40:28 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:162,610 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 2:51:57 PM Ignore apiergallini Report Abuse Every new development is another step in the right direction. Crawl, walk, run.
Eliano Champion Author Baltimore Posts:1,406 Points:274,975 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 2:27:21 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 2:01:48 PM Ignore Anddy_viper888 Report Abuse I already have got a wrist-watch with a solar battery :)
TXRanger09 Champion Author Dallas Posts:1,417 Points:629,980 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 1:56:17 PM Ignore TXRanger09 Report Abuse And solar panels take another big step.
Night Owl Champion Author Toronto Posts:5,780 Points:1,434,675 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 1:50:30 PM Ignore Night Owl Report Abuse Let's hope this technology makes it into the real world and lowers prices.
SilentpartnerMN Champion Author Minnesota Posts:1,361 Points:295,745 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:39:56 PM Ignore SilentpartnerMN Report Abuse If it is economically feasible, it will sell. Hopefully, not subsidized by our government.
melvindale All-Star Author Michigan Posts:780 Points:194,530 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:18:15 PM 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:1,625 Points:840,240 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:13:50 PM Ignore k2kipp Report Abuse Still all about cost.
CiVX Champion Author Oakland Posts:6,153 Points:1,112,380 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:09:54 PM Ignore CiVX Report Abuse Thats hot, I'm sure.
bar1035 Champion Author Charlotte Posts:6,586 Points:937,170 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:03:25 PM 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:1,100 Points:574,510 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:01:49 PM Ignore briinnc Report Abuse The Chinese will put them out of business soon
blazerbob91 Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:4,360 Points:1,530,415 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:00:12 PM Ignore blazerbob91 Report Abuse Obama loan them some money
viperahul Veteran Author Oakland Posts:468 Points:312,435 Joined:Feb 2006	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:00:00 PM Ignore viperahul Report Abuse +1 for Solar!
hibsaw Champion Author Mississippi Posts:6,207 Points:1,319,915 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:59:24 AM Ignore hibsaw Report Abuse Sounds promising. Keep working on it.
oldiesman Champion Author New York Posts:4,736 Points:1,863,755 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:59:16 AM Ignore oldiesman Report Abuse Good luck to them!
LasJayhawk All-Star Author Las Vegas Posts:720 Points:232,635 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:58:41 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:2,155 Points:1,178,450 Joined:May 2002	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:58:06 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 11:57:35 AM Ignore ctcowboy Report Abuse More science breakthroughs - love it!
armstrmb Champion Author Houston Posts:8,569 Points:1,728,080 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:56:39 AM Ignore armstrmb Report Abuse So we changed the site name to Solar Panel Buddy?
Badmoon Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:6,468 Points:1,289,440 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:56:37 AM Ignore Badmoon Report Abuse Sounds promising.
WebGabe All-Star Author Pennsylvania Posts:522 Points:134,855 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:56:33 AM Ignore WebGabe Report Abuse More subsidies, here we come...
waynemustang Champion Author Indiana Posts:5,046 Points:1,333,415 Joined:Nov 2006	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:56:09 AM Ignore waynemustang Report Abuse Good, but it still is not profitable.
hamdriver Champion Author Lansing Posts:2,166 Points:1,036,760 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:55:34 AM Ignore hamdriver Report Abuse SWEET!
orcar Champion Author Boise Posts:1,859 Points:523,835 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:54:58 AM Ignore orcar Report Abuse Beter get a loan from the gov't.
rwrMO Champion Author Missouri Posts:1,233 Points:320,155 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:53:57 AM Ignore rwrMO Report Abuse sun is not out, what will it look at?
Dennisjk Champion Author Detroit Posts:5,004 Points:1,592,250 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:53:36 AM Ignore Dennisjk Report Abuse Another investment for Obama.
fenster66 Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:1,513 Points:312,940 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:51:59 AM Ignore fenster66 Report Abuse lets see how they do on a large scale...
katiek9 Sophomore Author Ontario Posts:222 Points:32,865 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:51:59 AM Ignore katiek9 Report Abuse ok
HawaiianGuy Champion Author Idaho Posts:7,702 Points:2,722,115 Joined:May 2003	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:51:21 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:1,083 Points:299,625 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:50:49 AM Ignore dieselme2011 Report Abuse Good keep it in North America
Digger52 All-Star Author Chicago Posts:612 Points:497,045 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:50:21 AM Ignore Digger52 Report Abuse Good news
StrangeLuv Champion Author Kansas City Posts:1,906 Points:544,615 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:50:13 AM Ignore StrangeLuv Report Abuse Cool.
gasper Champion Author Edmonton Posts:3,174 Points:1,071,940 Joined:Mar 2002	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:49:37 AM Ignore gasper Report Abuse OK I got it better than and later they will have again better than.
LQQKGAS Champion Author Phoenix Posts:1,477 Points:851,070 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:49:31 AM Ignore LQQKGAS Report Abuse Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy !
arnerator Champion Author Seattle Posts:6,352 Points:1,257,610 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:48:51 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:4,850 Points:1,224,610 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:48:11 AM Ignore zimowski Report Abuse Solar needs to be affordable.
YodaON Champion Author Ottawa Posts:1,146 Points:421,975 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:48:06 AM Ignore YodaON Report Abuse They will get better and cheaper
1Casey Champion Author Albany Posts:5,005 Points:1,511,605 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:46:27 AM Ignore 1Casey Report Abuse Good job, keep working on it.
TNT2EC Champion Author Wisconsin Posts:3,283 Points:1,172,825 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:45:50 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 11:44:34 AM Ignore SkyWarnTX Report Abuse Well there you go...
esorsd Champion Author St. Louis Posts:4,018 Points:1,290,240 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:43:27 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:1,457 Points:319,610 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:42:17 AM Ignore SnickersDog Report Abuse Buy American made.
WhiteTreeIndian Champion Author New Jersey Posts:3,878 Points:767,970 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:42:12 AM Ignore WhiteTreeIndian Report Abuse Natural solutions are best.
divebomber Champion Author Nebraska Posts:4,244 Points:1,450,225 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:42:09 AM Ignore divebomber Report Abuse I WOULD LOVE THSES ON MY ROOF IN AZ.!
doggod Champion Author Anchorage Posts:1,072 Points:389,285 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:42:03 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:745 Points:289,560 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:41:23 AM Ignore vjs3 Report Abuse Keep working on it & find a less expensive answer.