Israeli firm bSolar has introduced a dual-faced solar cell that can boost energy yields by 10% to 30% with conventional inclined panels, and up to 50% with panels mounted vertically
An Israeli firm, bSolar, has introduced a dual-faced solar cell that it says can boost energy yields by 10% to 30% with conventionally mounted inclined panels, and up to 50% with panels mounted vertically. The double-sided cells increase yields by taking advantage of light that bounces off surfaces behind the panel. The more light that bounces back and strikes the cells, the more electricity they are able to produce.
Scientists have known for years that double-sided solar cells could collect more light and produce more electricity, but until now, the amount of additional electricity that could be produced didn’t make up for the larger cost to make such a cell. That’s where the new solar cells by bSolar differ. The company says they have figured out a way to make their solar cells worth the additional cost; it involves using boron instead of platinum when constructing the back surface field. The company says doing so allows for an open rear face and increased efficiency at the front. Also increasing efficiency are the monocrystalline silicon crystal wafers the company uses, which add more to production costs but are better at converting sunlight to electricity than those using conventional multicrystalline silicon.