Efficiency of Photovoltaic Solar Cells

United Solar Announces NREL Measurement of World Record 12% Efficient Thin-Film Silicon Cell.

This is the figure for thin film silicon cells. They use less material, which makes them cheaper, lighter, and more flexible compared to wafer silicon cells.

Here is a chart of photovoltaic solar cell efficiencies.

The key to competitiveness for thin film cells is the cost of polycrystalline silicon. When it is high, the wafer silicon cells are at a cost disadvantage because they use more.