By reducing resistance loss in the cells, Mitsubishi Electric Corp., an electronic equipment manufacturer, has announced it has set two world records for photoelectric conversion efficiency in polycrystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) cells. For the third consecutive year, the company has renewed a 19.3% efficiency rating for photoelectric conversion of a practically-sized polycrystalline silicon PV cell of 100 squared cm or larger. Measuring approximately 15 cm x 15 cm x 200 µm, the rating is 0.2 percent higher than its previous record of 19.1%. Its second world record has been achieved with the same technologies in an ultra-thin polycrystalline silicon PV cell measuring approximately 15 cm x 15 cm x 100 µm. It achieved an efficiency rating of 18.1%, a 0.7-point improvement over its previous record of 17.4%. The conversion efficiency rates have been confirmed by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) in Japan. The company will develop mass-production technology to deliver the high conversion rates in commercial PV modules. It will also aim to increase the output of its PV systems by combining the technology with PV inverters capable of high-efficiency conversion of DC current to AC. For more information, visit: www.mitsubishielectric.com