April 23, 2010
growing solar panels
“Instead of the expensive process of making a wafer and slicing it up with a saw, throwing away two thirds of it,” says Atwater, “We grow the material and literally peel it off. The plastic sheet is peeled off like scotch tape off a tape dispenser.”
The material is relatively easy to produce and uses 99 percent less silicon than a regular solar panel. Despite the small amount of material, the silicon wire panels have very high solar-absorption rates, with efficiency levels much higher than current polymer film panels. Theoretically, more panels could be produced for less money using this process, which would bring the cost per watt for solar energy way down.
Always wanting, always waiting.
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As much as I’m excited about the pospect of cheap solar energy, it’s that TACO converter that I really want. Do you think it converts Tacos into other things or other things into Tacos? I’m hoping for the later.
mmmm, tacos.
hopefully it has a vegetarian setting.