New Solar Technology

[dwwoelfel]

I'm curious if anyone here has heard of this, and knows when it might become commercially available, and at what price. A short write-up describing the plastic is here: http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1105319242587_49?hub=SciTech (via HowStuffWorks.com).

[Kwazai]

read a blurb about a year ago. most of the solar cells are made from leftovers from the chip industry (selenium,gallium, etc.). There was also a blurb on a magnetic crystal one way glass that uses the same (similar) technology. Also a blurb on the flexible cells which appear to be almost an aluminum fabric type (thin wire mesh).

Don't have a link to any of it though.  seems the efficiency being low on most of the solar cells has to do with them only converting certain wavelengths- the infrared spectrum is a little larger (longer wavelength?).

[finnsawyer]

There's no doubt that if they can get the 30% efficiency and make it cheap enough, it would be a boon.  If they can also make it last 20-30 years so it can be roof mounted, it would revolutionize solar energy.  I've got a 21 by 54 foot (on one side) barn roof just waiting for a cheap solar power system.  How much power would that be (at 47 dgrees north latitude)?

[stop4stuff]

my wife mentioned reading something about this last week...

iirc... the product would be sprayed onto whatever surface it is to be used on...

not sure how it'd work tho.

i'll ask her to find the details.