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TOPIC 'Solar Energy' on Dec 29, 2011 (CST) Tiny Solar Cells Pack High Power The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy laboratory has validated the development of a solar cell that is so small, it is no bigger than a dot made by a pen. Only six hundred microns wide, this tiny solar cell makes for a still powerful renewable energy source. The energy conversion efficiency is measured by the percentage of sun rays that are converted into electricity. This solar cell weighs in at 41 percent and is made by Semprius, based in North Carolina. This is one of the highest efficiencies recorded and the astounding part is that the solar cell is so small. The cell is make of gallium arsenide with lenses that focus the sunlight onto the cells 1,100 times. The small footprint of these cells reduces the overall cost of a solar module. It also enables designers to use a large amount of these tiny cells to distribute unused heat. This eliminates the need for more costly thermal management hardware. The small design coupled with its cutting edge technology lowers costs and maximizes efficiency. Semprius takes their patented process to transfer the micro-cells to a wafer. This can be done numerous times with thousands of cells enabling the substrate to be used repeatedly. This is another cost saving measure that makes the tiny solar cells the wonder of renewable energy. This is a concentrated photovoltaic design that significantly reduces the use of materials while highly concentrating the PV units. The demand for these highly concentrated solar photovoltaics will double each year over the next decade. Because of its ability to be highly concentrated, these modules are cost competitive with fossil fuels at high volume. Semprius has a plant under construction that is due to go online sometime in 2012. The plan is to use this facility for commercialized production of these tiny solar cells and their modules. Olaf_Kastein similar articles: Solar Energy: Businesses on both sides of solar energy implementation see benefits Solar Energy: Stage Your Home to Sell with Solar Solar Energy: Plug and Play Solar Panels: DIY Solar Power for the Home similar reports: Solar Thanks Germany & Japan! Solar Energy: The Energy Source for Everyone Solar Battery Backup

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