Download technology-specific charts:

Crystalline silicon cells

Single-junction gallium arsenide cells

Multijunction cells

Thin films

Emerging PV

Hybrid tandems.

Devices included in this chart of the current state of the art have efficiencies that are confirmed by independent, recognized test labs—e.g., NREL, AIST, JRC-ESTI, and Fraunhofer-ISE—and are reported on a standardized basis. The measurements for new entries must be with respect to Standard Test or Reporting Conditions as defined by the global reference spectrum for flat-plate devices and the direct reference spectrum for concentrator devices as listed in standards IEC 60904-3 edition 2 or ASTM G173. The reference temperature is 25°C, and the area is the cell total area or the area defined by an aperture.

Cell efficiency results are provided within families of semiconductors:

Multijunction cells

Single-junction gallium arsenide cells

Crystalline silicon cells

Thin-film technologies

Emerging photovoltaics.

Some 28 different subcategories are indicated by distinctive colored symbols.

The most recent world record for each technology is highlighted along the right edge in a flag that contains the efficiency and the symbol of the technology. The company or group that fabricated the device for each most-recent record is bolded on the plot.

The information plotted by NREL is provided in good faith, but NREL cannot accept direct responsibility for any errors or omissions. The plot is not copyrighted and may be used in presentations and publications, with a notation that states: "This plot is courtesy of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO."

Companies/Institutions LabelFull Name (If Different from Label)
AISTNational Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology  
Alta Alta Devices  
AMETEK   
AmonixAmonix Inc.  
ARCOAtlantic Richfield Company  
ASUArizona State University  
BoeingThe Boeing Co.  
DGISTDaegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology  
EMPASwiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology  
EPFLÉcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne  
EuroCIS   
FhG-ISEFraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems  
FirstSolarFirst Solar Inc.  
GE   
Georgia TechGeorgia Institute of Technology  
GroningenUniversity of Groningen  
Heliatek   
HKUSTHong Kong University of Science and Technology  
HZBHelmholtz-Zentrum Berlin  
IBMInternational Business Machines  
ICCASInstitute of Chemistry–Chinese Academy of Sciences  
IES-UPMInstituto de Energía Solar–Universidad Politécnica de Madrid  
ISCASInstitute of Semiconductors–Chinese Academy of Sciences  
ISFHInstitute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin  
Japan Energy   
KanekaKaneka Solar Energy  
Kodak   
KonarkaKonarka Technologies Inc.  
KopinKopin Corp.  
KRICTKorea Research Institute of Chemical Technology  
LGLG Electronics   
Matsushita   
MITMassachusetts Institute of Technology  
MitsubishiMitsubishi Chemical Corp.  
Mobil Solar   
MonosolarMonosolar Company Ltd.  
NIMSNational Institute for Materials Science  
No. Carolina State U.North Carolina State University  
NRELNational Renewable Energy Laboratory  
Oxford   
Oxford PV   
Panasonic   
Phillips 66   
Photon Energy   
PlextronicsPlextronics Inc.  
RadboudURadboud University  
Raynergy   
RCA   
SandiaSandia National Laboratories  
SanyoSanyo Electric Company Ltd.  
SCUT-CSUSouth China University of Technology - Central South University  
SCUT-eFlexPVSouth China University of Technology - eFlexPV  
SharpSharp Solar  
Siemens   
Soitec   
Solarex   
SolarFronSolar Frontier  
SolarJuncSolar Junction Corp.  
Solarmer   
Solexel   
SolibroSolibro GmbH  
SpectrolabSpectrolab Inc.  
Spire   
SpireSemiconSpire Semiconductor LLC  
StanfordStanford University  
SumitomoSumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd.  
SunPowerSunPower Corp.  
Tek of Taiwan   
Trina   
U. DresdenUniversity of Dresden  
U. LinzUniversity of Linz  
U. MaineUniversity of Maine  
U. QueenslandUniversity of Queensland  
U. So. FloridaUniversity of South Florida  
U. StuttgartUniversity of Stuttgart  
U. TorontoUniversity of Toronto  
UCLAUniversity of California, Los Angeles  
UniSolar   
UNISTUlsan National Institute of Science and Technology  
UNSWUniversity of New South Wales  
UNSW/Eurosole   
VarianVarian Semiconductor  
Westinghouse   
ZSWZentrum für Sonnenenergie- und Wasserstoff- Forschung Baden-Württemberg (Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg)