#Boeing-Spectrolab

[intelligentliving]

A team of engineers has developed a hybrid solar energy converter that uses energy from the sun to generate electricity and steam with high efficiency at a low cost. This device allows the industry to make use of a broader spectrum of solar energy. Photovoltaics is the most common way...

[wisdomrays]

TAFAKKUR: Part 251

THE FUTURE OF SOLAR ENERGY IN THE ENERGY MARKET AND WHY WE NEED IT MORE THAN EVER

RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES

Our current source of energy is mostly fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and natural gas. Fossil fuels are nonrenewable. In other words, they are finite resources and they will diminish significantly in future; hence, they will be very expensive to use and environmentally harmful to recover. In contrast, solar, wind, biomass, hydrogen, geothermal, ocean, and hydro power are renewable energy resources, that is, they are constantly replenished and will not run out. Renewable energy is not only important for our energy needs but also has significant advantages over fossil-based energy resources in the protection of the environment. Besides, the environmental aspect of renewable energy also has a religious dimension, since preservation of the earth and its inhabitants is regarded as a duty for humankind.

Among these energy resources, solar energy is generally used for electricity generation or for hot water heating. It also finds uses in solar cooling, and in direct heating and lighting of buildings and homes. Solar panels are made of photovoltaic (PV) cells. The term “photovoltaic” means “converting light into electricity.” Solar energy technology has been around since the late nineteenth century. Yet, its share in energy production constitutes a very small fraction (less than 0.1%) of production around the world. This stems from the higher cost of electricity generation with solar panels in comparison to use of fossil fuels. In the US, electricity generated from PV cells costs $0.30 to $0.40 per kilowatt-hour while consumers pay only $0.10 per kilowatt-hour to the electric utility companies. Nonetheless, with recent advances in this technology, it will be possible in the near future to decrease the cost and make this technology viable for our energy needs as we face shrinkage in fossil fuels around the globe.

One of the factors that increases cost is the low power-conversion efficiency of current PV cells. The PV cells used in the market are mostly fabricated from silicon crystals and these cells show a power conversion efficiency of 15%. That means, 85% of photons go to waste when harvesting energy from sunlight. In fact, the theoretical limit of light harvesting in silicon-based solar panels is only 31% because of the low band gap of silicon, which only partially absorbs sunlight to form charge carriers in the device. To solve this problem, scientists have utilized three different crystals in a single PV cell to absorb more sunlight, and these studies have yielded a device efficiency of 37%. Just recently, scientists at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (Golden, Colorado) and Boeing-Spectrolab have achieved a world-record conversion efficiency of 41% by using the same idea, establishing a new milestone in sunlight-to-electricity performance. Although such studies are very promising in this field, when it comes to production cost, these inorganic PV cells are still an expensive technology for power generation compared to fossil fuels.

ORGANIC PHOTOVOLTAICS

An alternative solution to decrease the cost is to use devices with lower power efficiency but a very low cost of production. Organic-based PV materials offer such an alternative with easy and fast production techniques such as solution processing and printing. Conjugated polymers (polymers with alternating single and double bonds in their polymeric backbone) are especially important in this regard, since they exhibit semiconductor properties. The best organic PV cell efficiencies reported in recent years are around 5%. This number must double in order for the cells to be used in solar panels, assuming that the cell displays high photostability and conductivity. Many research groups are now focusing on organic-based solar systems as an alternative technology to their inorganic counterpart.

Although we are all familiar with solar energy, most of us do not know how electricity is produced from sunlight. To show the mechanism for photovoltaic activity, one first should look into an anatomy of a typical organic PV cell which is shown in Figure 1. This cell is based on an organic PV cell. The organic layer is sandwiched in between two electrodes where light absorption and charge separation occurs. Typically, glass is used for support but plastic materials can also be used as alternatives. The anode is usually indium tin oxide (ITO) and the cathode can be aluminum, calcium, gold, or magnesium. The electrodes must be semi-transparent to facilitate light absorption. Specifically designed conjugated polymers are utilized for sunlight absorption, where the wavelength range of absorbed light may vary from ultraviolet-visible to near infrared depending on the material used in the device. The efficiency of the device is determined by the extent of light absorption, efficiency of charge separation, and charge diffusion to the electrodes. The morphology of the organic layer has been found to be very important for device characteristics and cell efficiency. In an organic PV, an electron is promoted from the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) level to the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) level upon light absorption (Figure 2). This transition results in an electron-hole pair which is then separated by the electric field formed by the different ionization energy of electrodes (Φ). Therefore, the electron moves to the cathode and the hole moves to the opposite side. This process causes charge flow between the electrodes and hence electricity is generated in the process.

Despite all the improvements in organic PV technology, current cell efficiencies are still low for electricity generation. The stability of organic PV materials must be improved as most of them are prone to degradation by oxygen and humidity in the air. The large-scale production of organic solar panels is possible, and yet the feasibility of current methods has not been investigated extensively so far.

Solar energy is a clean, renewable resource of energy and is projected to have significant role in the energy market in near future. Funding in the field of solar energy has been increasing in recent years due to the increasing need for energy and the likely reduction of fossil fuels towards the end of this century. Yet, our research efforts are still not sufficient for the advancement of this technology.

IMPORTANCE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT: AN ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE

Solar energy, like other renewable energy resources, is environmentally friendly. Its use should be promoted, as fossil fuels play a dominant role in the increase in greenhouse gases, which are believed to be responsible for the increased rate of global warming and hence climate change. Global warming may cause rises in sea level and changes in the amount and pattern of precipitation. These changes may in turn increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts, heat waves, hurricanes, and tornados. Other consequences may include higher or lower agricultural yields, glacial retreat, reduced summer stream flows, and species extinctions. Warming is expected to affect the number and magnitude of the events mentioned above; however, it is difficult to connect particular occurrences to global warming.

In any case, focusing on renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies is one of the best options to secure the future of our planet and all existing forms of life on it. Our effort should not only be due to the expected shortage of fossil fuels in future. Rather, it must be seen as a duty and moral act to save the environment since use of renewable energy resources has little or no negative impact on nature. Religious awareness and guidance in this area is necessary so that each individual may take active part in the protection and development of the environment. Much environmental degradation is due to our ignorance of what our Creator requires of us. People should be educated to realize that the conservation of the environment is a religious duty demanded by God. This fact is expressed in Qur’an in a number of places such as, “Do good, even as God has done you good, and do not pursue corruption in the earth. Verily God does not love corrupters” (Qasas 28:77), “And do not follow the bidding of the excessive, who cause corruption in the earth and do not work good” (Shu’ara 26:151–152), “And do not cause corruption in the earth, when it has been set in order” (A’raf 7:56). Any deliberate damage to the natural environment and its resources is a kind of corruption which is forbidden by Islam.

As Muslims, we should protect and preserve the environment because by doing so we protect the creatures which pray to God and praise Him. Although we do not know how they praise God, the Qur’an clearly points this out: “The seven heavens and the earth, and all beings therein, declare His glory: There is not a thing but celebrates His praise, and yet you understand not how they declare His Glory!” (Isra 17:44). Islam is established on the concept of good (khayr). Since it is scientifically proven that protecting the environment is of great significance for all animals and plants on earth, Muslims should see it as khayr. In the last two verses of chapter Zalzalah (99:7–8), God says, “And whoever does good an atom’s weight will see it then. And whoever does ill an atom’s weight will see it then.”

Protecting God’s creatures and the environment is a duty of humankind because human beings are the “agents” of God on earth. This task cannot be performed by other creatures. Therefore, as the Muslim community we should all commit ourselves to the preservation and to the protection of the environment. Surely, investing in and promoting improvement of the technologies based on renewable energy is one way to go.

[topcrow1]

Expense To place In Solar Individual panels On Rv

A home that consumes one particular,000 kWh a month will typically want between 20 along with 30 solar solar panels. The common expense for conserving and in addition mending solar solar panels is $150 to £1,000, without factoring while in the install. 1522 solar panels as being a strategy to offset your application with solar electricity in order that process is obviously quite straightforward. The standard household create is three kW to twenty kW centered largely on your home's aspect, area, and energy calls for. Every YSG Solar method developer, engineer and additionally installation technician is well-informed to produce entirely improved solar alternatives that provide energy in addition operation additionally to a profit with the expenditure in really tiny hours by any means. A solar installing business can guide you decide your region's insolation. Solar power strength tactics are truly tailored dependent in the property, roof variety, shading, and in addition application. Forms of Solar Panels Solar panels are classified into 3 lessons: mono-crystalline (single crystal) , poly-crystalline (multiple crystals) , or amorphous silicon. In the recommended scheme, there're two energy converters inside of the pathway from Solar solar panels for the power packs, while from the other model that you simply described, a single power converter, i.e. the charge controller is merely one particular from your pathway between your solar sections furthermore to electric battery. They perform significantly better in very low sums of sun rays than polycrystalline individual panels. You can find 3 distinct methods to mount solar individual panels, which normally influence the full price. Scientists from Spectrolab, a subsidiary of Boeing , have claimed development of multi-junction solar cells possessing an productivity of over 40Per cent, a completely new globe record for solar photovoltaic cellular material. Through the supreme assessment, solar sections will not be worth your cash, without doubt they're eco-warm and friendly, but they may essentially be inexpensive alongside the uppr type men and women who earn effectively.

When going solar, it is vital that you use a business using a verified position of premium quality competent installation and one of the most profitable individual panels in the market. The spot in the residence has an effect on the cost for putting in solar whilst in the several techniques. Solar panels are priced together with the watt. As PV tissue are progressing to be considerably more effective they in convert generate a lot more current in addition to more than the past quite a few quite a few years most makers have transferred from 3 busbars to 5 various or half a dozen busbars. What is Backyard Revolution All About? Backyard Revolution By Zack Bennett

[sdmr123]

According to SDMR International, Incoherent Light Sources research report covers the data which is helpful for key players market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force, technological advancement, distributors, traders, dealers, research findings. The report provide predic

[zonnepanelenprijzenmwiw949]

Installatie Zonnepanelen - Sunaware

Zonnepanelen Installatie: Welke Onderdelen Heb Je Nodig?

Table of ContentsZonnepanelen Installeren - Snel Je Eigen Energie - MygoZonnepanelen Installateur Prijzen [Kosten + Handige Tips ...Installatiehandleiding Het Installeren Van ... - Eco-logischKosten ZonnepanelenZonnepanelen Plaatsen - Vattenfall

De eerste kristallijne silicium-panelen werden in 1954 gefabriceerd, met een rendement van 4%. Met name voor de ruimtevaart waren deze interessant, omdat voor aardse toepassingen het rendement simpelweg te laag was. In de jaren daarop werd het rendement verbeterd tot zo’n 6%. De gemiddelde commerciële zonnecel tegenwoordig haalt een rendement van ruwweg 14%.

Ontdek De Voordelen.

Een zonnecel wordt met een moeilijk woord ook wel fotovoltaïsche cel (afgekort PV-systeem, van het engelse photovoltaic cell) genoemd (Nooit meer een energierekening.). De meeste zonnecellen zijn gemaakt van een laag van het materiaal silicium. Om van dit silicium een halfgeleider te maken, wordt er aan de bovenkant een laagje fosfor toegevoegd en aan de onderkant een laag borium (zie de pagina halfgeleiders voor meer uitleg).

Zodra er zonlicht schijnt op een zonnepaneel, worden er onder invloed van deze straling elektronen ‘losgeweekt’ uit de bovenkant van het paneel; er ontstaat een vrij elektron met een bijbehorend gat. Omdat er vanwege de ongelijke ladingverdeling een elektrisch veld ontstaat op het grensvlak, kunnen de elektronen maar één kant op.

Zonnepanelen In 2021

Zelf Zonnepanelen Plaatsen Op Plat Dak: Jouw Opties

Sluit je de boven- en onderkant nu op elkaar aan, dan gaat er over de draad een stroom lopen - beste zonnepanelen. Aangezien de spanning over de zonnecel erg laag is (slechts een halve volt), worden vaak meerdere zonnecellen in serie aan elkaar ‘geknoopt’ in een zonnepaneel. Vervolgens zal er een omvormer (transformator) geplaatst moeten worden.

Een ander type zonnecellen zijn de zogenaamde dunne film zonnecellen. Deze cellen zijn, zoals de naam al aangeeft, significant (100 tot 200 keer) dunner dan hun kristallijne tegenhangers (Zonnepanelen installeren: Voordelen & prijs - zelf of door ...). De cellen zijn flexibel en hebben een zeer laag gewicht, waardoor ze makkelijk toepasbaar zijn op diverse oppervlakken. Het rendement van dunne film zonnecellen is een stuk lager (zo’n 6%) en het productieproces is erg complex, maar de benodigde hoeveelheid grondstof (kristallijn silicium) is zeer laag.

Deze lagere prijs weegt echter niet op tegen het rendementsverlies, waardoor je met een dunne film cel niet of nauwelijks beter uit bent. Inhoud Voor zonnecellen zijn er drie soorten silicium beschikbaar: monokristallijn silicium, polykristallijn silicium en amorf silicium. Monokristallijn silicium wordt middels het zogenaamde Czochralsi-proces verkregen: er wordt een staaf in een vat gesmolten silicium gestoken.

Zonnepanelen Pakket Kopen

Deze cellen behalen het hoogste rendement, maar zijn relatief duur. Polykristallijn silicium wordt verkregen door vloeibaar silicium in een vierkantsvorm te gieten. Er zullen met het afkoelen diverse siliciumkristallen groeien, die niet allemaal naadloos op elkaar aansluiten. Deze vorm is goedkoper, maar levert dan ook een lager rendement. De laatste vorm, amorf silicium, bevat helemaal geen kristallen.

Zonnepanelen Installaties: Waar Let Je Op? - Zonnepanelen Op

Dit materiaal is het goedkoopst te verkrijgen, maar geeft tevens de minst rendabele cellen. Er zijn tevens andere materialen beschikbaar, maar deze zijn te duur om op grote schaal toegepast te worden. Deze technieken halen vaak hoge rendementen, maar vinden vanwege hun prijs hun toepassing meestal in de ruimtevaart. Het hoogst behaalde rendement tot nu toe (rond de 40%) behoort toe aan een door Spectrolab (deel van Boeing) ontwikkelde zonnecel.

Daarnaast wordt er gebruik gemaakt van verschillende lagen materiaal (het zogenaamde multi-junction principe) om meer golflengten te benutten. De materialen die voor de subcellen gebruikt worden, zijn Galliumindiumfosforide, Galliumindiumarsenide en Germanium. Een nieuwe en zeer veelbelovende techniek zijn de zogenaamde organische zonnecellen. Deze cellen werken volgens een minder rendabel principe, maar zijn dusdanig goedkoop te fabriceren en flexibel in toepassing dat de wetenschap zich er compleet op gestort heeft.

Zelf Zonnepanelen Plaatsen Op Plat Dak: Jouw Opties

Deze cellen bestaan uit diverse lagen van verschillend materiaal, die elk een deel van het zonlicht omzetten in elektriciteit. Verschillende materialen hebben immers verschillende energietoestanden en absorberen dus verschillende golflengtes. Op deze manier wordt dus een groter deel van het zonlicht benut (geabsorbeerd), in plaats van teruggekaatst. Een variant op deze techniek maakt gebruik van een prisma om het licht te splitsen voordat het het paneel bereikt.

Met deze technieken kunnen zonnecellen met een rendement van maar https://zonnepanelen.pro/offerte/amsterdam/ liefst 40% worden gerealiseerd - Zonnepanelen kopen. Panelen gebaseerd hierop zijn echter zo duur, dat ze nog niet interessant zijn voor dagelijkse toepassingen. Een andere, goedkopere, methode om het rendement van de zonnepanelen te verhogen, is het bundelen van zonlicht door optische instrumenten (lenzen, spiegels).

Hoe Instaleer Ik Zelf Zonnepanelen Door Doe Het Zelf Installatie ...

Door de zonnecellen in het brandpunt van het optische systeem te plaatsen, kan de opbrengst dus substantieel worden verhoogd. In Australië is men bezig met een centrale die de zon als het ware ‘volgt’ en het licht dus continu gefocust houdt op de panelen. Deze installatie moet zo’n 154 MW gaan leveren - Checklist offerte zonnepanelen Offerte ontvangen?.

Deze Zonnepanelen Kun Je Zelf Installeren En De Stekker Stop ...

Eén van deze eigenschappen is de zogenaamde band gap, het energieverschil dat een elektron moet overbruggen om van de valentieband te springen naar de geleidingsband. Het is deze eigenschap die bepaalt welk deel van de zonnestraling door de zonnecel wordt geabsorbeerd. De overige straling heeft óf onvoldoende energie om de elektronen ‘wakker te schudden’ en passeert het materiaal óf heeft zoveel energie dat deze door de atomen wordt geabsorbeerd en omgezet in trillingen (warmte) (Zonnepanelen installeren: Voorkom gevaren, kies een expert).

[orbemnews]

House Station is due an improve as NASA says photo voltaic arrays present indicators of 'degradation' The brand new arrays shall be smaller and extra environment friendly however is not going to change the previous ones. As a substitute, they may work in tandem to spice up the quantity of energy generated by 20 to 30 %. The arrays are being offered by NASA’s major ISS contractor, Boeing, in addition to the corporate’s subsidiary Spectrolab and provider Deployable House Methods (DSS). NASA mentioned: “The brand new photo voltaic arrays shall be positioned in entrance of six of the present arrays, and can use the prevailing Solar monitoring, energy distribution, and channelization. “This strategy is much like the one used to improve the station’s exterior tv cameras to excessive definition, utilizing the prevailing energy and management mechanisms.” if(typeof utag_data.ads.fb_pixel!=="undefined"&&utag_data.ads.fb_pixel==!0)!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function()n.callMethod?n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments);if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)(window,document,'script','https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js');fbq('init','568781449942811');fbq('track','PageView') Supply hyperlink #arrays #degradation #due #NASA #Show #signs #solar #Space #Station #upgrade

[nuadox]

A novel hybrid solar energy converter

- By Barri Bronston , Tulane University -

Tulane University researchers are part of a team of scientists who have developed a hybrid solar energy converter that generates electricity and steam with high efficiency and low cost.

The work led by Matthew Escarra, associate professor of physics and engineering physics at Tulane, and Daniel Codd, associate professor of mechanical engineering at the University of San Diego, is the culmination of a U.S. Department of Energy ARPA-E project that began in 2014 with $3.3 million in funding and involved years of prototype development at Tulane and field testing in San Diego.

The research is detailed this month in the science journal Cell Reports Physical Science. Researchers from San Diego State University, Boeing-Spectrolab and Otherlab were also part of the project.

"Thermal energy consumption is a huge piece of the global energy economy - much larger than electricity use. There has been a rising interest in solar combined heat and power systems to deliver both electricity and process heat for zero-net-energy and greenhouse-gas-free development," said Escarra.

Image: The hybrid solar energy converter features a solar module with glowing red cells built at Tulane. Credit: Matthew Escarra.

The hybrid converter utilizes an approach that more fully captures the whole spectrum of sunlight. It generates electricity from high efficiency multi-junction solar cells that also redirect infrared rays of sunlight to a thermal receiver, which converts those rays to thermal energy.

The thermal energy can be stored until needed and used to provide heat for a wide range of commercial and industrial uses, such as food processing, chemical production, water treatment, or enhanced oil recovery.

The team reports that the system demonstrated 85.1 percent efficiency, delivered steam at up to 248°C, and is projected to have a system levelized cost of 3 cents per kilowatt hour.

With follow-on funding from the Louisiana Board of Regents and Reactwell, a local commercialization partner, the team is continuing to refine the technology and move towards pilot-scale validation.

"We are pleased to have demonstrated high performance field operation of our solar converter," Escarra said, "and look forward to its ongoing commercial development."

--

Source: Tulane University

Full study: “Solar Cogeneration of Electricity with High-Temperature Process Heat”, Cell Reports Physical Science.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.xcrp.2020.100135

Read Also

Next-generation solar panels: Made of polystyrene and cheaper

[kathleenseiber]

Solar energy converter creates power and heat for cheap

A new hybrid solar energy converter generates electricity and steam with high efficiency and low cost, researchers report.

“Thermal energy consumption is a huge piece of the global energy economy—much larger than electricity use. There has been a rising interest in solar combined heat and power systems to deliver both electricity and process heat for zero-net-energy and greenhouse-gas-free development,” says Matthew Escarra, associate professor of physics and engineering physics at Tulane University.

The hybrid solar energy converter uses an approach that more fully captures the whole spectrum of sunlight. It generates electricity from high efficiency multi-junction solar cells that also redirect infrared rays of sunlight to a thermal receiver, which converts those rays to thermal energy.

The thermal energy can be stored until needed and used to provide heat for a wide range of commercial and industrial uses, such as food processing, chemical production, water treatment, or enhanced oil recovery.

The team reports that the system demonstrated 85.1% efficiency and delivered steam at up to 248°C. They project the system will have a system levelized cost of 3 cents per kilowatt hour.

“We are pleased to have demonstrated high performance field operation of our solar converter,” Escarra says, “and look forward to its ongoing commercial development.”

The paper appears in Cell Reports Physical Science. Additional coauthors are from the University of California, San Diego; San Diego State University; Boeing-Spectrolab; and Otherlab.

Funding for the work came from a US Department of Energy ARPA-E. With follow-on funding from the Louisiana Board of Regents and Reactwell, a local commercialization partner, the team will continue to refine the technology and move towards pilot-scale validation.

Source: Tulane University

The post Solar energy converter creates power and heat for cheap appeared first on Futurity.

Solar energy converter creates power and heat for cheap published first on https://triviaqaweb.weebly.com/

[osceolaenergy-blog]

Solar Power: Capturing The Fruits For Our Labor

The last three decades have seen a bipartisan effort to match large innovation investments with trade, tax and regulatory policies that drive the production of American inventions overseas as quickly as possible. We have created a system where American public and private funds develop new technologies and launch startups that demonstrate viable commercialization only to have Chinese firms swoop in and filch the patents, jobs and economic returns with no technological or market risk. This has happened in market after market. Solar photovoltaic (PV) power serves as a poster child for this process and one where we still have a small window of opportunity to save our investment. The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has unanimously concluded that Solar World and Suniva suffered injury from China gaming trade rules. It is now up to President Trump to determine what action is appropriate by the end of this month. Silicon #solarPV was developed at Bell Laboratory in 1953 and its first significant practical application was powering America’s second space satellite, Vanguard. In the decades that followed, American taxpayers continued to fund space missions that pushed the bounds of solar power performance. In the 1960s and 70s, NASA sent solar powered probes to Venus and Mars while also testing demonstrator terrestrial solar power stations in remote villages on Earth. American space applications continue to push the boundaries of solar PV performance. After the moon, International Space Station is the brightest object in the night sky. The primary cause of that brilliance are the station’s massive solar arrays which contain 275,000 silicon cells manufactured by Boeing’s Spectrolab division.

Webmasters's insight:

#SolarPower: Capturing The Fruits For Our Labor #OsceolaEnergy

[wionews]

With high-performance cells, China takes aim at high-end solar market

China, blighted by pollution and long known for churning out cheap manufactured goods, is looking to dominate the high-end of a major growth market: solar power.

Under a new program, China is pushing the industry to mass market high-performance solar cells so far used mainly in high-tech products like satellites.

Making these cells more affordable will likely further boost a sector that has already disrupted global electricity generation.

It will also put pressure on international solar cell makers such as Canadian Solar, REC Solar, Sharp and Sunpower which compete with Chinese leaders including LONGi Green Energy Technology, Trina Solar, and JA Solar Holdings.

Under its 2017 "Top Runner Program", China's National Energy Administration (NEA) plans to add 8-10 gigawatt (GW) of solar capacity to its existing 80 GW.

"This shift ... could have far-reaching implications for the global solar industry, especially vaulting China into the top ranks of countries pursuing solar R&D," Stanford University said in its 2017 report on the solar industry.

Multi Out, Mono In

World solar power generation capacity has ballooned to around 300 GW from just 1 GW in 2000, according to International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) data - and is set to double again by 2020.

That growth has largely relied on multi-crystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) cells - sometimes called polycrystalline - in which solar units consist of multiple silicon crystallines.

These have been cheaper to produce than the more efficient mono-crystalline cells, which are made from single crystalline units.

The price of multi-crystalline cells has dropped to well below 50 cents per watt from $80 in 1980.

But prices are now converging as China scales up production of mono-crystalline cells.

Energy Trend, a consultancy, says the average price of a Chinese high-efficiency, multi-crystalline cell is now $0.225 per watt, compared to just $0.319 for high-efficiency, mono-crystalline cells.

"With poly-silicon products, we have seen the (development) ceiling. Now, we are ramping up investment of mono-solar," said Xie Tian, director of quality management at LONGi Green Energy Technology. "Mono-crystalline can take more than 50 percent of the market," he said, up from around a fifth today.

Analysts say demand for mono-crystalline panels is already strong.

"Many panel makers... can't meet orders. Their bookings are full until next year," said Jason Tsai of Energy Trend.

Not New, But Better

Mono-crystalline technology is not new, but because of its cost, has mainly been used in high-tech space products.

But its use is likely to increase as the cost differential narrows, meaning a higher efficiency can be had at a similar price.

Under the "Top Runner" program, pay-outs known as Feed-in-Tariffs will favour high-efficiency projects.

"It's much easier to meet the requirements on mono, therefore it (the program) is accelerating investment in mono," said Steve O'Neil, CEO of REC Solar, a Singapore-based panel maker owned by Chinese state-owned ChemChina.

Germany's Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy, a leader in solar development, said in July the record laboratory efficiency for mono-crystalline was 26.7 per cent per cell, versus 21.9 per cent for multi-crystalline.

While China is driving the shift into mono-crystalline, producers globally are adopting.

REC, for example, says it is starting to move into mono-crystallines after focusing largely on multi-crystalline cells.

"We've been looking into mono to further improve power output. In early July, we started production of a... mono solar panel specifically designed for Japan's residential market," O'Neil said.

Solar cell development doesn't end with mono-crystalline cells, and China's competitors aren't sitting idle.

Fraunhofer has developed so-called multi-junction cells with an efficiency of 46 percent, and U.S. aerospace giant Boeing's Spectrolab is developing cells with similar efficiency.

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