Toward the Practical Limits of Silicon Solar Cells

This paper reports recent efficiency results achieved by SunPower (SPWR) using industrially relevant manufacturing processes and then reexamines the following age-old question: “What efficiency can a single-junction Silicon solar cell suited to large-scale manufacturing achieve?” Through examination of a gap analysis of the SPWR cell and use of other relevant proof-points, insights are provided into the remaining challenges to achieving the practical limits.