MIT researchers have overcome a major barrier to large-scale solar power- storing energy for use when the sun is not shining. Prior to this discovery, storing extra solar energy for later use has been cost prohibitive and very inefficient. The MIT discovery is a simple, inexpensive and highly efficient process for storing solar energy.
The team has found a catalyst that allows for cobalt and phosphorus to work at room temperature and in a neutral pH solution that releases hydrogen and oxygen from water. The gases are stored and used later to power a fuel cell to release the stored energy. • Third-generation solar panels are being produced with specialized printers applying nano-size particles onto rolls of thin flexible material in a way similar to inkjet printing. These panels are at a fraction of the cost (as little as $1/watt compared to $4.50/watt for traditional solar cells) of second generation PV panels which use a vacuum-based glass etching technology. Despite the lower cost, these third generation cells are lower in efficiency. The thin film flexible solar panels hold promise for application on things other than just roofs. Applying the film to a tent, for example, could provide energy to power small appliances inside. In fact, the US Army is deploying prototypes of this technology applied on tents. Low-cost solar panels could be integrated into walls, boats, and cars.
CIGS solar panels – made of Copper, Indium, Gallium, DiSelenide, resemble computer microchips. Rather than working with a silicon ingot, as with crystalline PV materials, a solar cell can be created by sequentially depositing thin layers of the copper, indium, gallium and diselenide into a very thin structure using an easy manufacturing process. The resulting thin-film devices require very little semiconductor material. Laboratory-scale demonstrations of thin-film CIGS solar cells have shown nearly 20% efficiency levels.
There are about 40 companies worldwide working in the area of next generation photovoltaic technologies. Thin-film layered techniques, or CIGS technologies are being incorporated in the next generation products. For example, Hewlett Packard is getting involved by capitalizing on their ink jet printing technology and experience. Other companies include:
• Honda
• Sharp
• Sanyo
• Dow Chemical
• Shell Solar
• Intel
• Dyesol
• Global Solar
• DayStar
• Miasole
• Ascent Solar
• Nano Solar
• ISET
• SoloPower
• Wurth Solar
• Sulfur Cell
• Sunpower
• Kyocera
• Evergreen Solar
• Ready Solar
• Luma Resources
• Ecotechnologies