New solar energy conversion process discovered by Stanford engineers could revamp solar power production

A new process that simultaneously combines the light and heat of solar radiation to generate electricity could offer more than double the efficiency of existing solar cell technology, say the Stanford engineers who discovered it and proved that it works. The process, called "photon enhanced thermionic emission," or PETE, could reduce the costs of solar energy production enough for it to compete with oil as an energy source.

BY LOUIS BERGERON

Full Story: http://news.stanford.edu/news/2010/august/new-solar-method-080210.html