Nanotech Solar Cell Minimizes Cost, Toxic Impact 95
bonch writes "Researches at Northwestern University have developed an inexpensive solar cell intended to solve the problems of current solar cell designs, such as high cost, low efficiency, and toxic production materials (abstract). Based on the Grätzel cell, the new cell uses millions of light-absorbing nanoparticles and delivers the highest conversion efficiency reported for a dye-sensitized solar cell."
Re:Oh neat! (Score:3, Interesting)
You're right, no improvements to solar panel technology ever reach the market. That's why the cost of solar power has been in freefall for several years.
No wait, I forgot, it's all the Chinese, right? They flooded the market SO HARD that it broke the space-time continuum and made solar prices fall even before they entered the market at all!
Re:Did whoever wrote the summary read the article? (Score:4, Interesting)
It's important to note though, that if you can make twice as much panel area for less money, then you are being more efficient.
At the end of the day they are aiming for two different efficiencies:
1. A lower $cost/output
2. A higher output/environmental-footprint ratio.
I've heard that currently the rule-of-thumb for Photo-Voltaic arrays is 4 years operation before they pay for themselves. Maybe this new technology will lower that significantly
I won't be rushing out to buy one yet (Score:5, Interesting)
There are three factors that must converge to make it economically sensible to go solar electric.
1). Grid parity. This is when the amortized cost of power from the solar electric system costs less than power off the local grid.
2). When the cost per KWH per year stops dropping so rapidly. A corollary of Moore's law applies.
3). Storage. We need a low cost & efficient power storage system. Flywheel, hydro, battery, even hydrolysis. Lightweight batteries or hydrogen fuel cells that could be swapped into the car would be best.
At the current technology curve, it should be here within a decade in the sunny parts of the world.