National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

Photovoltaics research

Research and Development

Education and Research

A solar technology that combines commercially available solar cells with optical filters to trap wavelengths of light that standard solar cells cannot capture, thereby increasing overall conversion efficiency.

First-generation wafer-based photovoltaic technology dominating the current market with approximately 90% market share. Includes both single-crystalline and multi-crystalline silicon cells.

Filters integrated into the UNSW solar system that trap and redirect wavelengths of light that standard solar cells cannot efficiently capture.

Colorado

Sydney

Germany

A solar energy system developed by UNSW researchers that achieves over 40% conversion efficiency using concentrator photovoltaics technology combining commercially available solar cells with optical filters.

A commercial-scale solar energy system using concentrator photovoltaics technology that combines commercially available solar cells with optical filters to achieve over 40% conversion efficiency, setting a world record for commercial PV systems.