We've been highlighing our favorite solar innovations for a while. In fact one of our readers' all-time favorite posts is about a spray-on technology.
Although that particular product isn't quite ready for general market release, there are some other impressive ones that are.
Some of the most efficient and amazing improvements are from the world of nanotechnology.
Photovoltaic laminates were invented in the 70's, so it's pretty well expected that there will be ongoing improvements in the ways that PVs are developed and produced. In particular, there's a fascinating thin film technology that comes from Nanosolar in California, where they make solar cells into an ink that they spread on foils. They coat the foils with the ink using a method like a printing press. This speeds up production faster than your traditional methods. It is solar cell production in great mass.
Silicon wafers are fragile, where thin film is ink. Both act as semi-conductors to create electricity.
Thin is the operative word, as these films are 100x thinner than the traditional silicon. It is also interesting that thin film nanotechnology reduces required silicon by 90%, which therein held much of the high cost. However, the heavy glass that protects thin film ink is somewhat pricey. Check out www.nanosolar.com for the pdf and overview on thin film nanotechnology photovoltaics. You can also find a video posted on JetsonGreen a while back that highlights what they are up to!
What are some of your favorite new technologies in solar?
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Solar thermal windows:
As much as solar PV windows are exciting, they are VERY expensive and not very efficient and you also do not know how long they will last, and what the solar power output will be in five years (eg what will be the loss of efficiency). Also this product will be limited for over-funded corporations and skyscrapers. Can an average Joe use it? I think not. But what an average Joe can use in his house are the solar thermal windows - while the last I heard of them, they were still in development stage, they are actually already used in some commercial projects in Massachusetts, and the 2009 Solar Decathlon home built by Team Boston also incorporates the latest version of these solar thermal windows.
They work by storing solar heat during the day and then heating the house at night - pretty simple idea, but works great.
Is far as I know they are very expensive right now - but so is anything green / solar / renewable :) ... I hope prices will drop as they go into mass production. One other thing that "worries" me is if one of them gets broken or leaks - it will be VERY expensive to replace (hopefully home insurance would cover something like this).
Price and Education
Great article! We are finding more customers who have heard of photovoltaics - or want something like it. It has definitely not met the main stream at this point. I agree with the other comment about it being a price issue but it is also and education issue. Minnesota Roofing Contractor
Solar Windows
The solar windows products are a pretty interesting too. Can this technology be used for that?
http://www.getgreenhomeplans.com/
Education is Key too
I agree with the other comment about price. It definitely is a factor. I think education is also key to promoting solar energy. If people know what the long-term cost savings on both the planet and their pocket book they would be more likely to choose solar energy. Ridge Vents
Price is the only roadblock
Price is the only roadblock to full scale acceptance of solar energy in the United States. Thin film solar may be the answer.