Energy is a concern for many North Carolinians. With environmentalists accusing Duke Energy of contributing to pollution in Charlotte and with rising costs of energy, many are afraid they will struggle to pay their bills and negatively impact the environment.

In addition to these concerns, is the issue of hydraulic fracturing, a controversial natural gas drilling method.

An efficient, clean, renewable and affordable energy source has been the unattainable ideal for years. Recently, in the Triangle area, a business specializing in the production and research of solar modules recently reached a breakthrough that may represent a big step towards that direction.

Semprius , based in Durham, uses high concentration photovoltaic modules ( HCPVs ) to reach efficiency levels unattainable through traditional solar technology. While traditional solar technology can only maintain efficiencies ranging between 14 and 15 percent, the  HCPV  modules are capable of reaching much higher levels. Earlier this year,  Semprius  set the new world record in efficiency for solar modules. According to Scott Burroughs, vice president of Technology, with modules reaching 33.9 percent efficiency,  Semprius  holds the technology to convert more than one-third of the sun’s energy into usable electricity.

For Russ  Kanjorski , Vice President of Business Development at  Semprius  working in the Triangle to market this new technology represents a milestone in achieving his goal to help bring cost-competitive and sustainable electricity to the world.

“It’s very exciting to take a brand new technology and commercialize it for the first time… and it really is world record technology,”  Kanjorski  said. ” It has the highest efficiency by a good margin. It is the first time we managed to…convert a third of the sun’s energy into electrons in one module and is pretty exciting stuff to be associated with.”

With this technology, the goal of bringing down the cost of renewable energy so it’s competitive with all forms of energy is in sight, and many people have taken notice.

On May 22, Nancy  Sutley , chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, and Congressman David Price (Dem.) visited Semprius’s  office to see the achievements of  Semprius  and what the Triangle area has in store for the nation and the world.

“One of the best things we do as Americans is innovate and we are leading the world in the development of clean energy,”  Sutely  said. “It’s been very impressive for [Rep. Price and I] to see not only the technology but…also to see the clean energy economy in action.”

In proving that solar energy has great potential for a cost-effective alternative to conventional sources of energy and in proving that the Triangle has much to offer small businesses,  Semprius  is successful.

 ”We’re well positioned in the Triangle area to be a leader in renewable energy and the clean energy business,” Rep. Price said. “We are one of the very top national centers for new energy technologies.”

According to  Kanjorski , the Research Triangle Area continues to be helpful in supporting businesses like  Semprius .

“The most important thing about the Research Triangle Area and North Carolina would be the workforce and the skill sets that are here.”  Kanjorski  said. “This is a place where a small research and development company, which  Semprius  was, can flourish and get the partnerships and employees that it needs.”

The economic benefit may entice those unsold on the environmental impacts the new technology promises.

According to  Kanjorski , while  Semprius  and the  HCPV  modules may represent the game-changing breakthrough in environmentally friendly energy sources, there are still other reasons to support renewable energy. Other reasons include the pursuit of domestic energy and job growth. Solar energy has added hundreds of thousands of jobs within the last couple of years in the United States.

“Some people are motivated by one of those three [reasons] and some people may be motivated by all three but this is the wave of the future.”  Kanjorski  said. “Costs are coming down and economies are changing and I think it’s important for this country to have some leadership in the [solar energy] area.”