Scientists have set a new efficiency world record for CIGS solar cells at 23.64 percent, highlighting the potential of CIGS technology in advancing solar energy efficiency and reliability. This accomplishment marks a significant step forward in the quest for more efficient and cost-effective solar power solutions.

Uppsala University has set a new world record in the generation of electrical energy from CIGS solar cells, achieving an efficiency rate of 23.64%. This achievement was verified by an independent institute and the findings have been published in the esteemed journal, Nature Energy.

The record results from a collaboration between the company First Solar European Technology Center (formerly known as Evolar) and solar cell researchers at Uppsala University.

Marika Edoff, Professor of Solar Cell Technology at Uppsala University, who is responsible for the study, stated,
“The measurements that we have made ourselves for this solar cell and other solar cells produced recently are within the margin of error for the independent measurement. That measurement will also be used for an internal calibration of our own measurement methods.”

The previous world record was 23.35 percent (Solar Frontier, Japan), preceded by 22.9 percent (ZSW, Germany). Uppsala University has held the record before, the first time being in the 1990s in the research collaboration Euro-CIS.

“At one time we also held the record for a series-connected prototype. Even though it’s quite a long time since we held the cell record, we’ve often been just behind the best results and of course, there are many relevant aspects to consider, such as the potential for scaling up to a large-scale process, where we have always been at the forefront,” Edoff says.

Solar cells are increasing rapidly worldwide and solar power accounted for just over 6 percent of electricity around the globe in 2022 according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). The best solar modules of