Natcore Technology Achieves Commercial-Level Efficiency With Breakthrough Solar Cell

Natcore Technology Inc. (TSXV:NXT) announced it has achieved commercial-level efficiencies for its laser-processed solar cells.
As quoted in the press release:

Refinement of Natcore’s revolutionary all-back-contact silicon cell structure, which utilizes low-cost aluminum instead of high-cost silver, has progressed rapidly.
Less than 11 months ago, early proof-of-concept cells were delivering 4% efficiencies. Today, the cells have already reached efficiencies of 17.5%, roughly equivalent to typical commercial cells being sold today.
Importantly, Natcore’s new cell design is producing short-circuit currents above 40 mA/cm²and open-circuit voltages above 0.65V. Expected improvements in these measurements, as well as fill factor, project to efficiencies well above 20%.
Natcore’s new design builds upon the basic concept of a silicon heterojunction (SHJ) solar cell. An SHJ cell produced by Panasonic holds the current world record efficiency for a silicon solar cell at 25.6%. There is nothing inherent in Natcore’s new design that would preclude it from ultimately achieving efficiencies in this range.
The rapid improvements in performance for Natcore’s new SHJ cells have been made in the company’s Rochester research facilities, which, while employing advanced laser and processing equipment, are somewhat limited in comparison with commercial solar cell production facilities. Thus it is expected that significantly higher performances will be achieved as development of Natcore’s cells progresses from the lab to production facilities.

Natcore Technology Director of Research and Technology, Dr. David Levy, stated:

Many companies are producing cells with efficiencies at the levels we’ve so far achieved. But cells made using our technology will ultimately be much more efficient and far less expensive to produce, which will equate to very significant cost/watt improvements.

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