By Renewable Energy Focus staff

The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) has confirmed an efficiency of 14.7% (aperture area) for a Q-Cells Q.SMART UF CIGS solar thin-film module manufactured by Q-Cells' subsidiary Solibro GmbH.

The record efficiency, measured in February 2011 by Fraunhofer ISE confirmed a power output of 100.3 Wp under standard test conditions.

The CIGS solar thin-film module, with an area of 0.75 m², reached a total area efficiency of 13.4%. With an aperture area of 0.684 m², the CIGS solar thin-film module's aperture area efficiency is 14.7%.