Pliable Solar Cells on a Roll

klevin writes "New Scientist is running a story on someone else who's developed thin, flexible, photovoltaic cells: 'The thin and bendy solar panels can be stuck to fabrics, sheets or backpacks and promise a go-anywhere electricity supply.' Whatever happened to those sheets of solar cells that some university here in the US developed several years back? As I remember, the concept was that they could be draped across roof-tops and whatnot. Never heard anything after that." We had post about solar building clothing last year.

Hmmm.

[krymsin01]

Would be good to use as a solar sail, I bet.

Are there other applications besides clothing?

[aheath]

I wonder if there are other applications that make more sense than clothing that can charge a cell phone.

I think this type of material could be very useful to provide electricity in places that do not have access to a reliable electrical grid.

How many watts are needed to run a a phone, a refrigerator, a radio or a computer?

Cheap solar panels

[Squalish]

Screw clothing to charge cellphones, etc. I can't think of a more petty use.

The major impact of this tech has nothing to do with its portability/flexibility. The article estimates that the price for a final process fab will be about 1 euro per watt, compared to a highly competitive market which has so far only produced 5.6 euro per watt glass panels.

Simply put, this would make photovoltaics as an energy source an order of magnitude more competitive, if the process is scalable.

Re:But what will the Terrorist implications be?

[HillBilly]

Get over the terrorist thing. Stop letting them win with your paranoid thoughts.

Re:Not really

[WalksOnDirt]

But unless they can make it much thinner, this WOULDN'T make a good solar sail.

At "a little thicker than photographic film", it is probably too heavy to be a good solar sail material.

(Yeah, I know you never said it would, but you do seem to be defending that position.)

Re:But what will the Terrorist implications be?

[LordEd]

It didn't say it was ultra-powerful, it says it was thin and cheap in trade for efficiency (and possibly usefulness)

A truly inventive person can use anything to any purpose. Don't fear the technology, fear the people using it. If we abandoned all technology used by terrorists, we'd be living in caves and the government would be licensing the use of fire, wheels, and hammers.

-- guns don't kill people, kids playing video games kill people

Re:Didn't RTFA, but...

[Anonymous Coward]

Actually, the artical states that they are MUCH cheaper to produce than the traditional glass based panels. Since they can produce it continuosly in sheets, it's a much cheaper process, about 1 euro/watt And that definately will help. Lower cost per watt is a good thing.

At that price you can produce a kilowatt/hour for around 1000 euro (or about $1330). It will make the idea of a household producing it's own energy and not relying on a public power grid much more realistic.

The flexible part will help enable a number of other applications.

Imagine Camping with a tent made out of the stuff. Charge a battery all day, and run your lights and small applainces at night.

Imagine a sailboat with a sail made out of it. It could power a rather nice navigation system I think.

Imagine the applications of something that is essentially a fabric producing electricity. Your clothing could power your cellphone, MP3 player, PDA, etc.

Also remember that it's a technology in it's infancy. it should get more efficient as the process is improved upon. The implications are far reaching and rather astounding if you ask me.

thank you, my error, cost around $US93 /sqm

[thorpie]

Thank you, so a cost of $93 sqm making close to $4,000 to cover 40sqm, or a repayment time of 6 years. Not so good, They won't get you to disconnect from the grid

Solar Power on the Go

[ElDuderino44137]

I think solar power would be great for my home,

It spends a lot of time out in the sun.
But my clothing?
I don't spend nearly as much time in the sun as my home does ;)

Cheers,
-- The Dude

Re:Not really

[lightsaber1]

Holy Crap! Am I the only one that read this as a joke? Geez, some people take things way too seriously...and whoever modded this "Insightful" as opposed to "Funny" needs to grow a sense of humour.