REC and ECN (Energy research Center of the Netherlands) have together made the world's first multicrystalline solar panels with 17.0 percent efficiency.

The previous world record at 16.5 percent was beaten in the innovation race where the solar industry takes frequent leaps in technology development to make solar power a mainstream energy source in the near future.

The world record was a result of a joint effort - REC produced the highest quality multicrystalline solar wafers from the latest wafer production lines in Norway (these wafers are characterized by very low level of impurities and dislocation densities achieved by using REC's latest generation wafer furnaces). ECN produced the cells and assembled the world record solar panel.

"We are pleased that our efforts in wafer technology development have allowed us to achieve this world record. Our previous joint REC/ECN record measurement was at 16.4 percent efficiency, and significant effort has gone in to reaching the 17 percent milestone,” said Erik Sauar, SVP and CTO.

"For ECN, it is most important to show our progress in industrially viable technology. The world record shows the enormous potential and we are certain that soon the first products will be available through our partners", says Ton Hoff, managing director of ECN.

The performance measurement result was recently officially confirmed by European Solar Test Installation (ESTI). The measurements were done under Standard Test Conditions and represent aperture area efficiency.