by Matthew McDermott, Brooklyn, NY on 19th June ’08 for treehugger.com
What you’re watching above is a new thin-film coater from Nanosolar in action. The San Jose-based company calls the machine a “milestone in solar technology” and while usually such language is standard PR hyperbole, considering that 10-30MW in annual production through other methods is usual, the 1 gigawatt annual throughput of this coater really is a cut above.
Nanosolar says the way in which it can achieve such high levels of production is through its proprietary nanoparticle ink, which allows them simply print their highly efficient (up to 14.5%) solar cells at rates up to 100 feet per minute.
The cost of the coater is $1.65 million, which is significantly less expensive that vacuum process tools, as well as being much faster in operation.
Nanosolar began shipping its first panels last December.
Other Links by treehugger.com
EDF Energies Nouvelles Invests $50M in Nanosolar
Nanosolar: Printing Solar Film Like Paper
19.9%: New Thin Film Solar Efficiency Record
Sharp Invests $725 Million in 480 MW Thin-Film Solar Plant
See Also from The Green Guy Blog:
New Solar Cell Rivals Silicon-Based Ones
(Another article on Thin-film Solar Cells except from another company. Tells you a lot about the competition in this field yea?)
This machine and the ink it uses needs to be backed by serious Government effort, either through them getting involved in production as well, or through large scale funding so that panels made through this method can be generated as quickly as possible.
Coal consumption is still increasing globally, and solar power is yet to even account for a portion of the increase in annual energy use. With this technology and hefty investment this could change.
I agree. Not to mention a shift in public mindset and a more widespread adoption of microgeneration, so people reduce their dependency on the grid, or contribute to it themselves. Either way, its going to have to be a two-pronged approach, adopting alternative energy sources while reducing total energy demand through efficiency in application etc.