OREANDA-NEWS. Panasonic Corporation today announced it has achieved a record conversion efficiency of 24.7% at the research level, using its HIT® solar cell at 98 micrometer thickness. The rate is the world's highest for any crystalline silicon-based solar cell of practical size (100 cm? and above).

This record conversion rate demonstrates superb efficiency of Panasonic HIT solar cells to convert sunlight into electricity. The latest figure is 0.8 percentage points higher than the previous record (23.9%) for HIT solar cells, and 0.5 percentage points higher than the previously published record for any monocrystalline silicon-based solar cell of practical size (100 cm2 and above).

Further, achieving this high efficiency at the very thin thickness of 98 micrometer has significant implications in terms of cost reduction as Panasonic continues to improve efficiency of its solar cells while lowering costs, with the aim to set itself apart from other companies in the industry.