Breakthrough in Solar Cells

[webbie]

the 40% efficiency barrier has been crossed - this is well over double the current effectiveness.

http://www.energy.gov/news/4503.htm

 

[babalu87]

This is good news, the only issue is it really isnt for everyone.
Solar is still a very expensive proposition in initial costs that some just cannot swing especially new homeowners.

Damn and all this happened with a Republican congress AND President

:ducking and running for cover:

 

[Jay H]

I hear CalTech or some other research university is looking into using standard plastics as solar cells. One of the big costs of converting sunlight to volts is the use of the high grade silicone used in solar arrays. It has to be pretty pure to be close to being efficient and the use of silicone is highly competitive with the microprocessor and computer chip folks (Intel, AMD, etc) which obviously command a bigger share of the silicone market.

But if we can start converting sun to volts using cheaper plastics, each solar panel will be a lot less than the $125+ they are now and perhaps we can start putting solar arrays on everything from backpacks to houses to cars?

Jay

 

[Corey]

Sounds like good news....where do I buy the cells?!?

Corey

 

[Mike Wilson]

I hear CalTech or some other research university is looking into using standard plastics as solar cells. One of the big costs of converting sunlight to volts is the use of the high grade silicone used in solar arrays. It has to be pretty pure to be close to being efficient and the use of silicone is highly competitive with the microprocessor and computer chip folks (Intel, AMD, etc) which obviously command a bigger share of the silicone market.

But if we can start converting sun to volts using cheaper plastics, each solar panel will be a lot less than the $125+ they are now and perhaps we can start putting solar arrays on everything from backpacks to houses to cars?

Jay

There is a technology that has developed whereby solar "cells" can literally be printed onto a flexible substrate, in the same manner as a laser printer prints on paper. With development, you can create single cell sheets on the cheap, and lower your total cost per watt.

-- Mike

 

[CountryGal]

I hear CalTech or some other research university is looking into using standard plastics as solar cells. One of the big costs of converting sunlight to volts is the use of the high grade silicone used in solar arrays. It has to be pretty pure to be close to being efficient and the use of silicone is highly competitive with the microprocessor and computer chip folks (Intel, AMD, etc) which obviously command a bigger share of the silicone market.

But if we can start converting sun to volts using cheaper plastics, each solar panel will be a lot less than the $125+ they are now and perhaps we can start putting solar arrays on everything from backpacks to houses to cars?

Jay

There is a technology that has developed whereby solar "cells" can literally be printed onto a flexible substrate, in the same manner as a laser printer prints on paper. With development, you can create single cell sheets on the cheap, and lower your total cost per watt.

-- Mike

Now that's what I need out here in the desert.

 

[Rhone]

Wow. So they stuck a magnifying glass to concentrate the suns rays onto a solar cell, and it created more energy, and it's being touted as a ground breaker. Is that it? I don't get where's the new efficiency technology.