Thinner, clearer, cheaper solar panels

摘要

Criticsrnof photovoltaic (PV) technology have pointed to its high cost relative to other renewable energy technologies. However, US company NanoMarkets has forecast a 75 per cent decrease in cost over the next decade due to developments in thin-film PV (TFPV) technology. TFPV technology promises flexible thin substrates that use little or no silicon; lightweight, standardised building products such as energy-producing tiles; solar-energy windows and skylights; and volume-rnproduction printing technology that will bring massive cost savings, as PV functionality is embedded directly onto substrates. The main focus of TFPV development will be in increasing the currently low energy conversion efficiency relative to PV.