Fraunhofer ISE holds several world records in the high efficiency solar cell sector, such as the record efficiency value for both-sides contacted silicon solar cells (26 %) and the top efficiency of 47.6 % for a four-junction solar cell based on a III-V multi-junction cell architecture.
In the “Center for High Efficiency Solar Cells”, we evaluate technologies with which the highest PV efficiency values can be achieved, and we implement them at the uppermost international level.
The major players maintained their leading positions throughout the list. The top four were LONGi, Jinko, Trina and JA Solar, the same order as last year. Chint (Astonergy), Tongwei, Canadian Solar, Risen Solar, DAS Solar, GCL SI and First Solar were among the top five to ten.
Consequently, in seven countries (Djibouti and Lesotho in Africa; Bhutan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan in Asia; and Paraguay in South America), about 23.3%, there is solar energy research; however, there is still no observable solar energy development in these seven regions.
Academic research plays a crucial role in shaping a country's industry. This review paper focuses on the connection between academic solar energy research and its practical real-world implications.
Twenty-three countries of the mentioned 30 countries, about 76.7%, have no reported academic solar energy research yet.