Compare · Solar cells
6-junction III-V concentrator vs CdTe thin film
RANKED BY INDEPENDENTLY CERTIFIED RESEARCH-CELL EFFICIENCY
#2 VS #8
CHECKED 06 SEPT 2026
Side by side
Verdict
6-junction III-V concentrator ranks #2 of 8 on Independently certified research-cell efficiency (47.1%); CdTe thin film ranks #8 (23.1%).
Rank 02 of 8 · leads
Independently certified research-cell efficiency
47.1%
MakerNREL
Date2020
Verified04 Sept 2026
Evidence
NREL press release 13 Apr 2020 and Nature Energy paper: monolithic six-junction inverted metamorphic cell 47.1% under 143 suns.Rank 08 of 8
Independently certified research-cell efficiency
23.1%
MakerFirst Solar
Date2024
Verified04 Sept 2026
Evidence
Solar cell efficiency tables (Version 68): CdTe cell 23.1% +/- 0.3%, NREL (5/24), First Solar. Same official-table pipeline as the NREL Best Research-Cell Efficiency Chart. Thin-film class, one-sun.Try another pair
More 6-junction III-V concentrator matchups
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- 6-junction III-V concentrator vs III-V triple-junction (one-sun)
- 6-junction III-V concentrator vs Perovskite/silicon tandem (two-terminal)
- 6-junction III-V concentrator vs Single-junction GaAs
- 6-junction III-V concentrator vs Crystalline silicon HIBC
- 6-junction III-V concentrator vs CIGS thin film
Source NREL/NLR Best Research-Cell Efficiency Chart, certifying-lab announcements (Fraunhofer ISE, NREL, LONGi/ESTI/ISFH), and Progress in…
Last checked 06 Sept 2026