Thin Film Solar Panels Replace Silicone Wafers
Photovoltaic Semiconductors for Alternative Energy Gets Cheaper
Apr 7, 2009
This product, Nanosolar SolarPly, is far superior to silicone wafer technology in generating electricity. Production costs are lower, the power-producing efficiency is higher, and the consumer cost for the product is much lower.
The Spike in Interest for Alternative Energy Sources
Many homeowners are shopping for alternative energy devices to install in their homes Why? First, to take advantage of the new tax credits made available by the 2009 economic stimulus plan. Secondly, to get partially off the grid before the Cap and Trade legislation raises energy costs.
The Anatomy of This Solar Collection Device
This product is produced from a photovoltaic thin film semiconductor, named CIGS (Copper Indium Gallium Diselenide), painted with a proprietary nanoparticle ink. In order to gather solar power, the ink must contain four elements in the proper atomic ratio.
The substrate is in the form of long rolls a of a low-cost metal foil. This is the electrode layer of the cell.
The Three Generations of Solar Power Panels
- The original silicone wafer cells were developed over 30 years ago. It was a green, renewable resource long before that concept was popular in the sense that it is today. It was largely an academic exercise though; the production costs were too high to make the product cost-efficient.
- The second generation was the first cut at thin film solar cells. These photovoltaic arrays were produced in a size 100 times thinner than the original wafer version. This was a huge leap from the first generation but far from being commercially viable. The film still had to be applied to a glass substrate, meaning that production costs were still high. The production process was still shackled to a high-vacuum model which made it time consuming.
- The third generation finally solved solar power panel issues of efficiency, production, and commercial viability. The ways Nanosolar addresses these issues follow.
Efficient Electricity-Generation
Because of the innovations, these cells deliver from 5 to 10 times more electrical current than any other thin film panels. This translates into less square footage used and more power available. This is critical for the homeowner installing solar panels on a roof of limited size.
A Streamlined Production Line Lowers Manufacturing Cost
Whereas Generation 1 relied on “clean-room” silicone wafer processing and generation 2 was still burdened with a glass substrate, Generation 3 prints in a plain-air manufacturing environment. That means lower factory overhead.
Not only that, but these cells are actually printed on rolls of conductive metal foil rather than on either cumbersome glass panels or wafers. That makes this the only continuously processing product up until now.
Again, the production costs of production plummet because of how much quicker the product can get out of the factory and onto the market.
A Commercially Viable, Renewable Energy Source
- Time for Energy-Payback: Generation 1 was about 3 years, generation 2 is a little over 1.5 years, but these cells can pay for themselves in less than 1 month.
- Making Custom Panels: Since the proprietary ink is painted on rolls of metal foil that are meters wide and miles long, panels may be simply cut to size.
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