New World Record: Kyocera Achieves 18.5 %* Efficiency for Multicrystalline Silicon Solar Cells

Kyocera announced today that its new 15cm x 15.5cm multicrystalline silicon solar cells achieve 18.5 % energy conversion efficiency. The cell is being presented at Intersolar in Freiburg on the Kyocera stand 4.3.63.

01 June 2007

Esslingen/Neuss – This achievement represents the latest in a series of successes achieved by Kyocera, which in 1985 became the first manufacturer to commercialize multicrystalline silicon solar technology. Prior records set by Kyocera for the efficiency of multicrystalline silicon solar cells were 14.5 % in 1989, 17.1 % in 1996 and 17.7 % in 2004.

The mechanic of Kyocera’s new world record cell

The increase in efficiency has been achieved by optimizing the cell’s grid-line configuration and by texturing the cell surface using the company’s patented “d.Blue” process, which raises sunlight collection by reducing reflectivity. The latest improvement is the result of increasing the amount of light that the cell absorbs by moving the front contacts to the rear.

“The new world record by Kyocera demonstrates our commitment to further progress in the development of solar technology,” said Mitsuru Imanaka, European president of Kyocera Fineceramics GmbH. “We are very proud that our team has accomplished this milestone.”

The Kyocera Corporation is a pioneer in the solar energy market and began to develop solar cells in 1975. In doing so, the company founder, Dr. Kazuo Inamori, made a fundamental contribution to the solar industry, which included forcing the pace of development in the mass production of multicrystalline silicon. Since then, the company has gathered many years of experience and has established a close link to the solar industry. Today Kyocera is one of the leading international manufacturers of solar cells and modules. In addition to its global sales of high-performance solar modules and a broad spectrum of solar components, the company also supplies turnkey solutions for complete solar packages. Kyocera controls all production steps with strict monitoring from wafer and cell production through to module assembly.

* measured by Kyocera

Contact:
Daniela Faust
Manager Corporate Communications
e-mail: daniela.faust@kyocera.de