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Improved silicon solar cells by tuning angular response to solar trajectory

Author

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  • Martin A. Green

    (University of New South Wales)

  • Zibo Zhou

    (University of New South Wales)

Abstract

Silicon solar cell costs are reducing dramatically with these cells now providing the majority of new electricity generation capacity worldwide. Cost reduction has been via economies of scale and steadily increasing sunlight energy conversion efficiency. The best experimental cells at 27.4% efficiency approach the 29.4% figure almost universally regarded as the limit on silicon cell performance. Here we show that assumptions in deducing this limit are too restrictive, since failing to incorporate sunlight directionality. Furthermore, we show how this directionality and the cell’s angular response can be quantified compatibly, using projections of angular dependencies of both onto the solar module plane. Even simple schemes for exploiting directionality, including installing solar modules facing the equator at near-latitude tilt, increase theoretical limiting efficiency above 29.4%. Highest gains are for cells designed for sunlight tracking systems, including common 1-axis trackers, with such cells having theoretical efficiency limits > 30%. In this work, we provide a strategy for ongoing improvements in commercial cell efficiency over this decade, additionally lowering cost via reduced cell thickness.

Suggested Citation

  • Martin A. Green & Zibo Zhou, 2025. "Improved silicon solar cells by tuning angular response to solar trajectory," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-8, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-55681-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-55681-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yang Li & Xiaoning Ru & Miao Yang & Yuhe Zheng & Shi Yin & Chengjian Hong & Fuguo Peng & Minghao Qu & Chaowei Xue & Junxiong Lu & Liang Fang & Chao Su & Daifen Chen & Junhua Xu & Chao Yan & Zhenguo Li, 2024. "Flexible silicon solar cells with high power-to-weight ratios," Nature, Nature, vol. 626(7997), pages 105-110, February.
    2. Khan, M. Ryyan & Hanna, Amir & Sun, Xingshu & Alam, Muhammad A., 2017. "Vertical bifacial solar farms: Physics, design, and global optimization," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 240-248.
    3. Schuster, Christian Stefano, 2020. "The quest for the optimum angular-tilt of terrestrial solar panels or their angle-resolved annual insolation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 1186-1191.
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