Renewable energy industry looks to boost device efficiency

BOSTON, USA: To reduce carbon footprint and dependence on fossil fuels, companies and government agencies are putting significant resources into improving renewable energy systems.

The recently published Strategy Analytics GaAs and Compound Semiconductor Technologies Service (GaAs) viewpoint, “Compound Semiconductor Industry Review July 2011: Optoelectronics, Materials and Equipment,” captures the product, technology, contract and financial announcements for companies that are developing products for renewable energy applications, such as DelSolar, First Solar, Advanced Energy, Alta Devices and Spire.

“There is a lot of development activity for renewable energy applications, particularly solar energy,” noted Eric Higham, director of the Strategy Analytics GaAs and Compound Semiconductor Technologies Service. “Companies are trying to increase efficiency and develop new technologies in order to allow renewable energy sources to be more cost effective and widespread.”

Asif Anwar, director, Strategy Analytics Strategic Technologies Practice, added, “Most of the thin-film photovoltaic materials have efficiencies well below 30 percent, so there is a lot of room for improvement. But even a few percentage points can mean a big difference for a large energy grid.”