When sunlight was added, this concave-convex mirror system gave birth to a solar laser. The laser had a peak power output of 57 watts. Most conventional industrial lasers have power outputs of several hundred watts. Our test results prove that a solar-pumped laser can achieve high powers with reasonable efficiency, said NREL s Allan Lewandowski. We achieved the highest reported efficiency for a solar-pumped laser operating at this power level.
Lasers are very energy intensive, consuming much more energy than they produce.
Lasers powered by electricity operate at about 1-2 percent efficiency, meaning they require 10 kilowatts of energy to produce 100 to 200 watt lasers. NREL s solar laser has an efficiency of almost 1 percent. The efficiency is expected to improve as researchers refine and optimize the system. NREL researchers believe that solar lasers are potentially more efficient than traditional lasers. NREL and University of Chicago researchers developed the secondary concentrator used for the solar laser as part of a collaborative effort.