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New World Record, Solar Cells

Posted by timethief • 5/18/08 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: Alternative Energy, power, solar cells, technology

New World Record For Efficiency For Solar Cells; Inexpensive To Manufacture

ScienceDaily (May 17, 2008) — Physicist Bram Hoex and colleagues at Eindhoven University of Technology, together with the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany, have improved the efficiency of an important type of solar cell from 21.9 to 23.2 percent (a relative improvement of 6 per cent). This new world record was presented on Wednesday May 14 at a major solar energy conference in San Diego.

Solar cells have for years looked like a highly promising way to partly solve the energy problem. The sun rises day after day, and solar cells can conveniently be installed on surfaces with no other useful purpose. Solar energy also offers opportunities for use in developing countries, many of which have high levels of sunshine.

Within ten to fifteen years the price of electricity generated by solar cells is expected to be comparable to that of 'conventional' electricity from fossil fuels.

This technology breakthrough now brings the industrial application of this type of high-efficiency solar cell closer. Read more -> www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080514154702.htm

Inexpensive efficient solar cells sound like good news to me. What do you think?

User Comments

5/19/08

momscrazylife

Pretty cool stuff..

[reply]
1. 5/19/08
  
  timethief
  
  I'm looking forward to alternatives. Gas and oil are going nowhere else but up in price.
  Bring on the alternatives.
5/19/08

momscrazylife

Ya, I have to say that I agree. My total for gas bills is the equivalent to my mortgage.

[reply]
5/19/08

earthandeconomy

Definite good news...have been following solar closely. Keep your eye on Nanosolar. Google has a hand in them and they have already backlogged due to excess demand for their products.

www.nanosolar.com
www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=AFE38A48BB34C650

[reply]
5/19/08

buyersweb

Yeah solar is the way of the future. It's really crasy that we pay for electricity when we could be generating it for free...

[reply]
5/19/08

earthandeconomy

More investment by Google in renewable energy

www.greenbang.com/3143/google-joins-in-brightsources-115m-vc-round/

[reply]
5/19/08

praning5254

There were some Filipino scientists who discovered the use of water as an alternative to gas. There were also some improvised vehicles that can be run by the solar energy. But since our government is not that "supportive" for this stuff (they prefer to collect huge taxes from oil companies), the inventors are reported to be working now at Japan and refining their works.

[reply]
5/20/08

voodooKobra

Heh .

[reply]
5/20/08

RuinousRight

Great news... thanks for sharing!

[reply]