solar PV efficiency

Syllable breakdown

Dictionary meaning

the proportion of incident solar radiation converted into electrical energy by a photovoltaic cell or module, expressed as a percentage; commercial silicon solar panels have typical efficiencies of twenty to twenty-three percent, while high-concentration multi-junction cells used in aerospace have achieved efficiencies above forty-seven percent in laboratory conditions; efficiency is limited by thermodynamic constraints, light reflection, electrical resistance losses, and the mismatch between the photon energy spectrum and the semiconductor bandgap; improving solar PV efficiency is a major research focus because higher efficiency reduces the panel area and material required to generate a given amount of power, lowering the cost and land footprint of solar installations