So solar technology has come a long way but there is now a company that can literally print out solar panels that are highly efficient and inexpensive. The company is Nanosolar and it has been their goal for many years to produce an inexpensive yet efficient solar panel. They achieved their goal through a seemingly simple means of printing out solar cells and attaching them to a “foil” backing. They have created an ultra then cell that is comparable to a sheet of paper which can be created 100x faster than traditional solar cells. This increase in productivity has dramatically decreased the costs of solar panels to society. The panels are rated as a "medium efficiency" which is perfect for most domestic or smaller scale solar projects. According to Nanosolar.com, "By delivering medium-efficiency solar cells at ultra-low cost, the optimum in cost efficiency and affordability is achieved for solar cells and panels. That's because the difference between an energy-conversion performance of 15% versus 20% is not even a factor of two while the difference between $20 and $200 in cost per square meter is a factor of ten. It's the solar power equivalent of trying to build a Toyota versus a Ferrari." In short they have created the best solar panel for the money. The cells can be printed out and even cut to any size that is needed and multiple cells can work together to create enormous solar panels. This technology will play a major role in the future of green technology because of its cost effectiveness, easy availability, and flexibility.
The video below is a bio of the company Nanosolar, the benefits of their solar cells, and how the cells are made.
http://www.nanosolar.com/technology
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I would mention what the actual cost is and compare it to other leading companies that make solar panels. Also, how it is installed and how does it work? Does the metal foil attach to the roof of the house? Then do wires connect to the solar panel and then to the various appliances in the house?
ReplyDeleteIt is nice to see that some existing green technology is cheap, it shows that people really do care about the environment and want to stop polluting it. Places like the Sonora desert could really find solar panels useful. Green technology used to be expensive because of the time needed to make it; the more time it takes to make something, the less you have, and thus the more expensive it is to cover the cost of making it. What out of all the green technologies you have discussed, in your opinion, is the most reliable, cost efficient, and available?
When it comes to the cost of these panels it varies depending on the project. Nanosolar reports that the panels will cost about $.99 per watt and that these are the cheapest solar panels in the market. Currently these panels are being made for large scale projects but in the near future there are plans for a residential application. When it comes to installation it is really as simple as having the panels cut to the size needed and attach them to a flat surface, such as a roof or large panels. The wires will run to a main power line much like all the other technologies I have discussed and from there the energy will work the same as the energy already on the grid. There is no one technology that can be called the "best" because each technology is good for separate scenarios. I would say the one that will be utilized the most in the future will probably be solar power of some form but the type of solar panels used will vary from case to case.
ReplyDeleteNature Man, I am glad that there is now a way to have more affordable green technology. How do you think the U.S. can begin implementing the use of these affordable solar panels?
ReplyDeleteBecause there are very few domestic homes that currently use green technology, don't you think it will be difficult for many to change?
When it comes to implementing this particular green technology I feel as though corporate America could make a major impact. Because it is so affordable and rated at medium efficiency I feel as if medium to small sized office buildings and similarly sized buildings could utilized this technology. Large manufacturing plants would probably be better off using higher efficiency panels to have a substantial impact on their energy consumption. Also, these larger companies can afford the more expensive panels. Smaller companies and office buildings will be able to exploit the medium efficiency nanosolar panels better because of the low cost. When thinking about the energy an office building uses (computers, lights, phones, servers, etc.) you can see why green energy would make a big difference. When it comes to domestic use of this technology it really comes down to how many people know the pros and cons of green technology. As I have stated in previous posts not enough people know about green technology and I believe as soon as the general public learns about green technology it will take off.
ReplyDeleteGood read! thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteSolar Residential
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