New highly efficient solar cells

Writing for The Conversation*, Professor Sebastian Bonilla explains how the current solar panel conversion rate of sunlight to energy is approximately 20-22%, but that this could reach 34% in future.

Tandem solar cells stack two solar materials on top of each other to capture more of the Sun's energy.  Their efficiency could mean reduced installation costs and acreage for solar farms, but it is unlikely to result in cheaper household electricity bills.  

*'New solar cells break efficiency record - they could eventually supercharge how we get energy from the Sun'.