European record: ZSW research institute claims 19.6% CIS solar cell efficiencies
A new European record has been claimed by the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, for copper-indium-gallium-diselenide thin film solar cell, which has produced under pilot production conditions. ZSW said that a 19.6% conversion efficiency had been recorded using an inline multistage process in its automated coating plant. The results have been certified by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems. (...) Michael Powalla [Member of the Board at ZSW] said that he expects commercial module efficiency levels of between 14 and 15% to be achieved within the next few years.