In fact, scientists at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Material Science and Technology announced this week that they had developed a new thin-film solar cell boasting a record efficiency of 17.6 percent. The cells reportedly use a polymer film to achieve the rate, and the results have been independently certified by Germany's Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems.
Specifically, the record applies to any flexible solar cell on polymer film, noted the researchers, who also said that the previous record had been 14.1 percent efficiency for this particular technology.
As solar panels become more efficient, the entire industry will benefit, as will homeowners. This is because solar energy is closer than ever to achieving full cost parity with traditional fossil fuels, which is likely to only stir greater interest in clean technologies.
Another benefit the next generation of solar technology will bring is the ability of homeowners to generate energy on more types of surfaces and, in the longer term, even from windows and roof tiles.
