Solar cells made from cheap nanocrystal-based inks have the potential to be as efficient as the conventional inorganic cells currently used in solar panels, but can be printed less expensively. Solexant, a company in San Jose, CA, is currently manufacturing solar cells to test the technology. In order to compete with other thin-film solar companies, Solexant is banking on simpler, cheaper printing processes and materials, as well as lower initial capital costs to build its plants. The company expects to sell modules for $1 per watt, with efficiencies above 10 percent.
That is energy independence. If each home, and most businesses, could power themselves, think of the capacity made on the grid.
Battery tech next, please.
Found via the FuturePundit
I can’t wait until putting up PV cells is as cheap as putting up shingles
Now the money question for those of us up in the PacNW – how well would said cells resist the growth of moss…? Because the shingles I have now are only fair to middlin.’