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Solar Cells
Today’s solar cells convert just a third of the sun’s energy into electricity.
Will you help optimise solar power to secure clean and sustainable energy?
The issue
The UK is committed to generating 15% of all of its energy from renewables by 2020.
Renewable energy is vital to the world’s quest to establish low-carbon economies and to protect the environment.
Solar energy provides a sustainable source of free, abundant, safe and clean energy. Solar cells also produce electricity with no significant decrease in efficiency for at least 20 years. However, even state-of-the-art solar cells convert only 33% of the sun’s energy into electricity.
Our solution
The University’s School of Physics and Astronomy has an internationally recognised leading position in the development of innovative materials for improving solar cell efficiency. Current solar cells contain three semiconductors, which convert specific wavelengths of sunlight into electrical energy. Remaining energy from the sun is lost. We are developing semiconductors capable of converting a fourth spectrum of sunlight into electrical energy; these can be used to engineer new solar cells with improved conversion efficiencies.
Additional funding will allow access to state-of-the-art, automated equipment for growth of semiconductor materials. Our researchers will be able to speed up production times, to improve the range and quality of semiconductors and to explore novel design concepts. The resulting semiconductors will also be of sufficient quality to be fitted into existing solar devices to improve efficiency. This is not achievable with current technology.
Our impact
Our research will deliver significant increases in solar cell efficiency, which will promote a low-carbon economy, mitigating global warming and protecting our environment from climate change. Optimising our ability to harness the sun’s power as a source of clean, sustainable energy will ensure countries around the world can enjoy total energy security.
What will your Impact be?
Your support for Solar Cells will genuinely accelerate our development of high-efficiency, low-cost solar cells, key in the drive to secure affordable, sustainable energy for the future with direct benefits to the global environment and society.