Monday, June 04, 2007

Yes, but how much will they cost?

40% efficient solar cells to be used for solar electricity

Sounds good, but as Wikipedia notes:
Solar cell efficiencies vary from 6% for amorphous silicon-based solar cells to 40.7% with multiple-junction research lab cells.[2] Solar cell energy conversion efficiencies for commercially available mc-Si solar cells are around 14-16%. The highest efficiency cells have not always been the most economical — for example a 30% efficient multijunction cell based on exotic materials such as gallium arsenide or indium selenide and produced in low volume might well cost one hundred times as much as an 8% efficient amorphous silicon cell in mass production, while only delivering about four times the electrical power.
The reporting on new developments should therefore concentrate on the cost of new types of solar cells, not just energy conversion efficiencies.

2 comments:

TimT said...

Clearly an unsustainable industry. Why, think of what happens when the world runs out of its precious silicate resources - Pamela Anderson will be devastated!

Steve said...

You are in a sili mood today, Tim? (Boom boom)