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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:855 Points:314,390 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Feb 5, 2012 11:49:33 PM Ignore anascom Report Abuse amazing technology advancement!
teafortwo Champion Author Washington Posts:16,926 Points:1,021,630 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Feb 5, 2012 8:32:56 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:6,715 Points:1,930,360 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 7:32:24 PM Ignore AnObserver Report Abuse Technology unleashing the promise of solar energy
sluggopyle Champion Author North Carolina Posts:22,737 Points:1,051,850 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 5:40:28 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:161,210 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 1:51:57 PM Ignore apiergallini Report Abuse Every new development is another step in the right direction. Crawl, walk, run.
Eliano Champion Author Baltimore Posts:1,390 Points:270,450 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 1:27:21 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 1:01:48 PM Ignore Anddy_viper888 Report Abuse I already have got a wrist-watch with a solar battery :)
TXRanger09 Champion Author Dallas Posts:1,398 Points:625,125 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:56:17 PM Ignore TXRanger09 Report Abuse And solar panels take another big step.
Night Owl Champion Author Toronto Posts:5,755 Points:1,429,700 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 12:50:30 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:1,350 Points:292,175 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:39:56 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:190,290 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:18:15 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:1,600 Points:836,015 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:13:50 AM Ignore k2kipp Report Abuse Still all about cost.
CiVX Champion Author Oakland Posts:6,143 Points:1,108,930 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:09:54 AM Ignore CiVX Report Abuse Thats hot, I'm sure.
bar1035 Champion Author Charlotte Posts:6,559 Points:932,195 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:03:25 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:1,075 Points:569,535 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:01:49 AM Ignore briinnc Report Abuse The Chinese will put them out of business soon
blazerbob91 Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:4,330 Points:1,524,315 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:00:12 AM Ignore blazerbob91 Report Abuse Obama loan them some money
viperahul Veteran Author Oakland Posts:460 Points:307,950 Joined:Feb 2006	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 11:00:00 AM Ignore viperahul Report Abuse +1 for Solar!
hibsaw Champion Author Mississippi Posts:6,180 Points:1,314,940 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:59:24 AM Ignore hibsaw Report Abuse Sounds promising. Keep working on it.
oldiesman Champion Author New York Posts:4,711 Points:1,858,780 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:59:16 AM Ignore oldiesman Report Abuse Good luck to them!
LasJayhawk All-Star Author Las Vegas Posts:705 Points:228,710 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:58:41 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:2,135 Points:1,173,650 Joined:May 2002	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:58:06 AM Ignore methaneman Report Abuse Lets see how all this works out!
ctcowboy Sophomore Author Connecticut Posts:101 Points:23,200 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:57:35 AM Ignore ctcowboy Report Abuse More science breakthroughs - love it!
armstrmb Champion Author Houston Posts:8,541 Points:1,723,105 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:56:39 AM Ignore armstrmb Report Abuse So we changed the site name to Solar Panel Buddy?
Badmoon Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:6,443 Points:1,284,465 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:56:37 AM Ignore Badmoon Report Abuse Sounds promising.
WebGabe Veteran Author Pennsylvania Posts:497 Points:129,880 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:56:33 AM Ignore WebGabe Report Abuse More subsidies, here we come...
waynemustang Champion Author Indiana Posts:5,029 Points:1,328,750 Joined:Nov 2006	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:56:09 AM Ignore waynemustang Report Abuse Good, but it still is not profitable.
hamdriver Champion Author Lansing Posts:2,140 Points:1,031,785 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:55:34 AM Ignore hamdriver Report Abuse SWEET!
orcar Champion Author Boise Posts:1,839 Points:519,085 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:54:58 AM Ignore orcar Report Abuse Beter get a loan from the gov't.
rwrMO Champion Author Missouri Posts:1,207 Points:315,180 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:53:57 AM Ignore rwrMO Report Abuse sun is not out, what will it look at?
Dennisjk Champion Author Detroit Posts:4,979 Points:1,587,275 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:53:36 AM Ignore Dennisjk Report Abuse Another investment for Obama.
fenster66 Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:1,488 Points:307,965 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:51:59 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 10:51:59 AM Ignore katiek9 Report Abuse ok
HawaiianGuy Champion Author Idaho Posts:7,672 Points:2,716,165 Joined:May 2003	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:51:21 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:1,065 Points:295,665 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:50:49 AM Ignore dieselme2011 Report Abuse Good keep it in North America
Digger52 All-Star Author Chicago Posts:587 Points:492,670 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:50:21 AM Ignore Digger52 Report Abuse Good news
StrangeLuv Champion Author Kansas City Posts:1,881 Points:539,640 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:50:13 AM Ignore StrangeLuv Report Abuse Cool.
gasper Champion Author Edmonton Posts:3,150 Points:1,067,735 Joined:Mar 2002	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:49:37 AM Ignore gasper Report Abuse OK I got it better than and later they will have again better than.
LQQKGAS Champion Author Phoenix Posts:1,451 Points:846,135 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:49:31 AM Ignore LQQKGAS Report Abuse Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy !
arnerator Champion Author Seattle Posts:6,327 Points:1,252,635 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:48:51 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:4,825 Points:1,219,635 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:48:11 AM Ignore zimowski Report Abuse Solar needs to be affordable.
YodaON Champion Author Ottawa Posts:1,116 Points:416,025 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:48:06 AM Ignore YodaON Report Abuse They will get better and cheaper
1Casey Champion Author Albany Posts:4,995 Points:1,509,405 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:46:27 AM Ignore 1Casey Report Abuse Good job, keep working on it.
TNT2EC Champion Author Wisconsin Posts:3,258 Points:1,167,850 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:45:50 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 10:44:34 AM Ignore SkyWarnTX Report Abuse Well there you go...
esorsd Champion Author St. Louis Posts:3,993 Points:1,285,265 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:43:27 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:1,432 Points:314,635 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:42:17 AM Ignore SnickersDog Report Abuse Buy American made.
WhiteTreeIndian Champion Author New Jersey Posts:3,858 Points:763,970 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:42:12 AM Ignore WhiteTreeIndian Report Abuse Natural solutions are best.
divebomber Champion Author Nebraska Posts:4,219 Points:1,445,250 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:42:09 AM Ignore divebomber Report Abuse I WOULD LOVE THSES ON MY ROOF IN AZ.!
doggod Champion Author Anchorage Posts:1,047 Points:384,310 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:42:03 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:720 Points:284,585 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2012 10:41:23 AM Ignore vjs3 Report Abuse Keep working on it & find a less expensive answer.