New solar cell technology is less efficient but more cost effective
Solar power has long been sought after as a solution to our global energy needs. The reason is rather obvious, as the sun never fails to rise in the morning and set at night. Solar power makes especially good sense where sunlight is abundant. Arid areas which have low populations would make excellent sites for large solar arrays. One problem which always has and continues to face solar is the high price of admission. As long as it is significantly cheaper to use far dirtier methods of power generation, solar will continue to take a back seat.
Lowering the cost of solar power might soon be a reality with new plastic solar cell technology developed by a team of Korean researchers. The cost is reduced due to the lack of silicon semiconductors in the cell. The cost per watt for the new cells is 10 cents, while existing solar cells cost $2.30 per watt. Lee Kwang-hee of the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology said that the team hopes to commercialize the new technology by 2012.
[Source: Chosun via Engadget]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Chris Adams 9:25AM (7/19/2007)
The difficult part of this kind of new technology is the organic materials surviving beyond a few months of direct sunlight. Think of your headlight lenses that yellow in just a few years. Or any plastic parts that get cracked and brittle over time. I'm hopeful, but inorganic glass encased silicon or even thin-film inorganics (Google CIGS solar technology for starters) will likely do far better in rigorous environments than this....
Reply
davido 11:17AM (7/19/2007)
Chris,
Would lower material costs make up for the need to replace these things more often than we would need to replace other more durable materials? After, all if this story pans out, this technology costs a twentieth of current solar tech and only half as much as thermal tech per watt.
Reply
david 12:33PM (7/19/2007)
Chris,
There are plently of plastics today that are able to withstand direct sunlight. Think about half of the interior components of cars, or even plastic bumpers, doors, lawn furniture etc.
Reply
Kristina Makansi 3:33PM (9/10/2007)
It sounds promising...especially if the efficiency factor for these types of solar cells can be dramatically enhanced by new thermotunnelling devices:
http://tempronics.com/pages/company.html
Reply