SunPower (SPWRA) announced yesterday that they have produced a world record, full sized 333kW solar panel with a 20.4% efficiency rate.  The record beating efficiency for a full sized panel was confirmed by the National Renewable Energy Lab.  The prototype solar panel was developed using DofE funds under the Solar America Initiative (SAI), awarded two years ago.  It doesn’t happen very often, but it’s nice to see tax payer dollars put to good use!  The company plans to make the panel available commercially within the next two years

“We are excited with the rapid pace in which we’ve been able to develop these advanced technologies,” said Bill Mulligan, SunPower’s vice president of technology and development. “Without the funding from the SAI, it would have taken us much longer to deliver both the world-record 96-cell solar panel and the innovative T5 Solar Roof Tile. We appreciate the DOE’s continued support of the solar energy industry.”