Monocrystalline silicon
Mass production conversion rate: 19.8-21%; Mostly in 17.5%. Now and then a breakthrough of the efficiency more than 30% less likely to.
polysilicon
The mass production conversion: 18-18.5%; Mostly in 16%. As well as single crystal silicon, due to the limitation material physical properties, to reach more than 30% of the conversion rate is less likely.
Gallium arsenide
Gallium arsenide solar battery conversion rate is quite high, about 23%. But the price is expensive, many used in aerospace, and other important places. Basic no large-scale industrialization of practical value.
The thin film
Thin film photovoltaic cells with thin, light and flexible good advantage, application scope is very broad, especially suitable for use in photovoltaic building integrated. If the efficiency of thin film battery components and crystal silicon, the price will be unparalleled. In a flexible substrate preparation of thin-film batteries, with flexible folding, don't touch, light weight, the advantages of the low light performance is good, will be more extensive application prospect in the future.
Amorphous silicon thin film conversion rate by about 9% at present. Amorphous silicon is expected to promote higher conversion rate.
The efficiency of attenuation
Crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules installed, exposure, 50-100 days, about 2-3% efficiency attenuation, then slowed sharply attenuation amplitude and stable attenuation of 0.5-0.8% a year, about 20% in 20 years attenuation. Single crystal component attenuation offer less than polycrystalline components. Amorphous light attenuation about below silicon do component.
Therefore, to improve conversion rate, reduce the cost per watt will still be two themes for the future development of photovoltaic (pv). Either way, large scale if it will increase conversion rate to 30%, the cost of under $five thousand per kilowatt (and hydropower is flat), and then humans will most widely by the nuclear fusion power research success, the most clean and new energy of almost unlimited cheap and reliable.