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3<br />

varying efficiencies <strong>and</strong> costs are now available. In 2006, Spectrolab's <strong>cells</strong> achieved<br />

40.7% efficiency in lab tests [14]. Scientists at the National Renewable Energy<br />

Laboratory (NREL) have set a world record <strong>of</strong> 48% efficiency on an inverted<br />

metamorphic triple junction <strong>solar</strong> cell. This is the highest confirmed efficiency <strong>of</strong> any<br />

photovoltaic device to date [15].<br />

The deployment <strong>of</strong> <strong>solar</strong> <strong>cells</strong> was transferred from space to terrestrial<br />

applications in the early 70s. So far, <strong>solar</strong> <strong>cells</strong> have been developed to serve many<br />

applications. They work in remote area power systems, earth orbiting satellites,<br />

h<strong>and</strong>held calculators, remote radio telephones <strong>and</strong> water pumping applications. Solar<br />

cell manufacturing is a vital <strong>and</strong> rapidly growing industry, enjoying over 30% annual<br />

growth during the last 10 years. The annual production <strong>of</strong> <strong>solar</strong> modules has increased<br />

tenfold every decade. Figure 1.1 shows the growth <strong>of</strong> world <strong>solar</strong> module<br />

manufacturing from 1980 to 2000 [ 16].

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