"One of the important ways to make solar energy cheaper is to improve the amount of sunlight that solar cells can convert into electricity. So it’s a big deal to see that First Solar announced on Tuesday that it’s managed to create a record 18.7 percent solar cell, up from the 17.3 percent cell it touted in July 2011."
So writes Ucilia Wang on the popular tech site, GigaOM.
Her story also provides a quick background on the competition between U.S. and Chinese companies in developing solar panels and the debate over whether to make solar cells from silicon or cadmium-telluride.
You’ll find it at: First Solar’s new world record for solar cell efficiency and why it’s important
Related solar energy news stories:
First Solar’s news release on its new world record
Ubiquitous Energy sets focus on solar cell technology
The price of solar power
Two days at the beach–next week in the NJ Legislature
Pa. jury throws book at state supreme court jurist
Local-level pols adopting Obama’s social media tricks
So this is a Pennsylvania natural-gas-drilling slowdown?