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Thin Film Technology Breakthrough to Cut the Cost of Solar Power

By C. S. Magor / 4 comments

For a long time it has seemed that affordable solar panels were not going to happen in the foreseeable future; however, a breakthrough from the HelioVolt Corporation has raised the possibility that we just might. HelioVolt has managed to produce thin film solar panels with a 12.2% conversion rate.

12.2% seems highly unremarkable, especially when compared to Sanyo’s recent 22% effort; however it is worth remembering that this is thin-film solar and that the panels are being printed with a proprietary FASST reactive transfer printing process that produces solar cells 10 to 100 times faster than their competition. The potential is that this could lead to solar power at less than $1 per watt, the magical number where solar really starts to compete with fossil fuel power. [HelioVolt via Gizmag]

About the author: C. S. Magor

C.S. Magor is the editor-in-chief and reporter at large for Uberreview and We Interrupt. He currently resides in the Japanese countryside, approximately two hours from Tokyo - where both his bank balance and the lack of space in his home are testament to his addiction to all things shiny.

Website: http://www.uberreview.com

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jeremiah

I need some solar panels myself,and I wanted to invent a thing or two.
http://SolarEnergyNewsandReview.blogspot.com Kevin

The price of these thin-film pv sheets is so much less than silicon pv it certainly will make up for the lower efficiency. You can simply afford to install 3 times(far lower install costs too) as many for the same price. Also combining this technology with holographic concentrators could greatly increase the efficiency.
Mike

Just like Nanosolar it will be for foreign countries or elitist businesses. The regular family would not be allowed to purchase them.
http://www.energypeak.com John

Mike, Heliovolt believes in mass-market BIPV with a typical install cost of $20,000 per home.

Kevin, you are completely on target with CIGS thin film + holographic concentrator technology. The key is convincing said company we know of to switch their focus from reducing c-Si size to making it a “top-surface” light trapping film for thin film laminates for BIPV applications, roofs, walls, etc…

Jeremiah, I suggest getting a PhD in Materials Science, or a masters at minimum or EE with optics physics courses… then work on the next Quantum Dot crystals with a band-gap to allow MEG (Multiple-Exciton Generation)… meaning these sol-gel stabilized crystallites will kick off 2 or 3 electrons per photon! Thin films would be 20-40% efficieny in no time!

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