1. INTRODUCTION
Since January 1993, “Progress in Photovoltaics” has published six monthly listings of the highest confirmed efficiencies for a range of photovoltaic cell and module
technologies [1–3]. By providing guidelines for inclusion
of results into these tables, this not only provides an
authoritative summary of the current state-of-the-art but
also encourages researchers to seek independent confirmation of results and to report results on a standardised
basis. In Version 33 of these tables [2], results were
updated to the new internationally accepted reference
spectrum (IEC 60904-3, Ed. 2, 2008), where this was
possible.
The most important criterion for inclusion of results into
the tables is that they must have been independently
measured by a recognised test centre listed elsewhere [1].
A distinction is made between three different eligible
definitions of cell area: total area, aperture area and designated illumination area, as also defined elsewhere [1].
“Active area” efficiencies are not included. There are also
certain minimum values of the area sought for the different
device types (above 0.05 cm2 for a concentrator cell, 1 cm2
for a one-sun cell and 800 cm2 for a module).
Results are reported for cells and modules made from
different semiconductors and for sub-categories within
each semiconductor grouping (e.g. crystalline, polycrystalline
and thin film). From Version 36 onwards, spectral response
information is included when available in the form of a plot
of the external quantum efficiency (EQE) versus wavelength,
either as absolute values or normalised to the peak measured
value. Current–voltage (IV) curves have also been included
where possible from Version 38 onwards