JDSU purchases patented multi-quantum well technology to increase triple-junction CPV efficiency

As the concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) market continues to heat up, more and more companies are entering the market and rapidly advancing their technologies. Recently, JDSU purchased the multi-quantum well technology patent from QuantaSol to increase the efficiency of JDSU's triple-junction CPV.

JDSU is a recent entrant into the CPV market, but it launched a CPV cell in September 2010.

Jan-Gustav Werthen, senior director of optoelectronics at JDSU, said the company entered the CPV market because it was starting to grow.

“The CPV market started to take off this year and is expected to grow rapidly next year. We are ready to meet this with our standard cell. Incorporating QuantaSol’s multi-quantum well technology should give us a good roadmap to over 40% efficiency,” he said.

JDSU said that while the company has supplied its CPV cells as an OEM, the product will use quantum well technology and will not be immediately available to the market.

“I don’t think we’ll be able to do best-in-class in the next year, but what QuantaSol has demonstrated is that the technology is feasible,” Werthen added. “Overall, we have to be a big player in this work, and that’s our goal. This technology will allow us to make a new leap forward.”