Hanergy Thin Film Power Group, a Chinese manufacturer of PV thin-film equipment and modules, has announced 28.9% conversion efficiency for single junction GaAs module made by its US located subsidiary Alta Devices. The record module carries a stamp of approval from the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
NREL has rated the panel as the 'world's most efficient single-junction solar module'. Alta Devices produces solar modules for unnamed aerial vehicles (UAV), electric vehicles and smart sensors as well.
Hanergy pointed out that this is the fifth time Alta Devices has broken the record for GaAs single-junction cells since 2010. It acquired California based Alta Devices in 2014.
Earlier this year in February 2018, Alta Devices achieved a 25.1% conversion efficiency for its GaAs technology module (see Hanergy Record Efficiencies For CIGS & GaAs). Another Hanergy subsidiary, Solibro GmbH from Germany, recently reported a record 18.72% aperture area efficiency for its double glass CIGS thin-film module.
"At Alta Devices, we believe that with fast-tracking trend towards autonomous machines, it's highly imperative to have sources of power that can be replenished without interruption. We're aligned with our goal to continue to produce thin-film solar modules with efficiencies par-excellence to lead the progressing trend towards autonomous machines," said Alta Devices CEO Ding Jianru.
Hanergy holds over 4,500 patents in the field of thin film solar energy, of which about 50% are invention patents.