Boeing subsidiary Spectrolab recently set a new world record by producing a solar cell that converted 38.8 percent of solar energy into electricity, more than any other ground-based solar cell not using concentrated sunlight. The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo., verified the new record, which beats Spectrolab’s own previous world record by 1 percent.

“Improving solar cell manufacturing technology is at the core of what we do at Spectrolab,” said Spectrolab President Troy Dawson. “We will continue to innovate new ways to achieve even better results.”

Spectrolab manufactured the high-efficiency multi-junction solar cell, which was developed from new Boeing semiconductor bonding technology. This solar cell technology could be used to power high-power spacecraft and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Spectrolab, part of Boeing Defense, Space & Security, is the world’s leading merchant supplier of high-efficiency multi-junction solar cells and panels for concentrated photovoltaic and spacecraft power systems, in addition to being the world’s leading provider of airborne searchlights.

Boeing press release