High efficiency photovoltaics: recent progress and long term goals

Photovoltaic solar cells based on III-V semiconductors are now reaching power conversion efficiencies in excess of 42%. This technology is reviewed and discussed with reference to the fundamental efficiency limit for solar photovoltaic power conversion, which sits at 87%. 1Maximum concentration factor is 46200x and corresponds to a magnified image of the solar disk filling 2πSr.