Plextronics announced that its organic photovoltaic technology achieved a world record in the conversion of solar light to power efficiency. The company's result of 5.4 percent establishes a new world record for single layer organic solar cells as certified by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), in Golden, Colorado.

Troy Hammond, vice president of products for Plextronics, said that the company began its organic photovoltaic development program less than two years ago, with the support of the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority.

"Today's world-record performance demonstrates the rapid pace at which our technology is progressing," said Hammond. "We look forward to continuing this advancement until we have enabled low-cost solar cell products with our Plexcore ink system."

According to Shawn Williams, vice president of technology at Plextronics, "NREL is the nation's primary laboratory for renewable energy R and D, and to have their certification of our technology is absolutely vital. Most importantly, in the course of setting the world record, we've also identified clear pathways to further improve our technology."

Plexcore ink systems for organic photovoltaic cells enable the low-cost printing of photo-active and charge carrier layers, which together convert light to power in the organic photovoltaic cell. The ability to print organic photovoltaic cells on glass or plastic drastically reduces the cost of energy compared to silicon solar cell technology. Specifically, Plextronics' technology has the potential to reduce the cost of solar cells below the commercially important threshold of $1 per watt, which is a reduction of up to five times that of crystalline silicon-based solar energy systems.