New, ultra-efficient solar cells can be developed in Norway in just a few years.

There is enormous potential in the sun rays hitting the earth every day and we need to get even better at utilizing this energy source. As of today, solar cells only use 14-22 percent of the energy in the sunlight.

Projects with support from SINTEF, the Research Council of Norway and the University of Oslo are developing new technology that can make tomorrow’s solar cells twice as efficient as those of today.

If solar cells double their efficiency, the cost per kilowatt-hour will almost halve, substantially improving the competitiveness of solar power. The new solar energy project uses a different material which could potentially convert 60 percent of the sunlight to energy, compared to today's 30 percent.

Source: www.nortrade.com
Photo: Heidi Widero/ Innovation Norway