Thin film solar cell technology is on the brink of outperforming the more common silicon-based solar cells of the day. The new solar cell sheets recently reached an efficiency rate of 19.9%. This is outstanding. The conversion of silicon cells are at 20.3%.

Researchers have gotten right up to the edge with thin film solar cells. The guys and gals down at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory have come close to the silicon-based cell’s output efficiency of 20.3%. They recently reached 19.9% and believe this record will be broken. This is great news for homeowners who live under the strict restriction guidelines of P.O.A.s.

The copper indium gallium diselenide thin-film cells use extremely thin layers of semiconductor materials applied to the low-cost backings such as glass, metallic foils, high-temp polymers and stainless steel sheeting.

They require less energy to make and can be made from a variety of processes. These factors make a promise to provide more affordable solar solutions for us residentially needy folks.

The process of creating the thin-film product is a lot like printing money. They use a roll-to-roll process that is like printing paper. This makes it easy to make and affordable, all the while opening up doors for many applications. We anxiously await what is around the corner with this product.

At this time, you may find uses for the home to be attractive due to the lack of application limits. You can adhere it directly to metal roofs. This will pass the P.O.A. scrutiny. You can find it in photovoltaic shingles. Don’t be surprised if this product makes it into the sporting goods, electronics, electric cars, architectural fabrics and the list goes on.

I look forward to updating this topic often.

For more on this and other alternative energies, visit Simple Green Home Solutions.com. Sign up for the free newsletter to keep abreast of developments in all things ‘green’.

More on solarpv.tv From our today’s report “Race of technologies” you will will learn about the status and competitiveness of crystalline, thin film, CPV and Organic PV technologies from the leading worldwide solar PV manufacturers: LDK, Jinko Solar, Sanyo, First Solar, Ascent Solar, Soitec, SolFocus and Konarka. In the “Race of technologies” you will see: CSI: Arturo Herrero – Jinko Solar – CMO Shinichiro Ishihara – Sanyo – Manager Robert Onofrey – LDK – Director of Market Development Thin Film TK Kallenbach – First Solar – President, Components Business Group Ron Eller – Ascent Solar – President & CEO CPV (Concentrated PV) Hansjorg Lerchenmuller – Soitec – Senior Vice President Customer Group Nancy Hartsoch – SolFocus – VP, Marketing & Business Development OPV (Organic PV) Howard Berke – Konarka – Chairman & CEO, Founder

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Thin film solar on Avondale, Ariz. Walmart


Image by Walmart Stores
For the duration of FY 11, Walmart effectively completed 35 solar projects in Arizona, California and Puerto Rico. Eight of these projects make use of thin-film solar, which considerably reduces the use of raw materials compared to traditional crystalling panels. This thin film solar project in Avondale, Ariz. is expected to provide 20 to 30 percent of the store’s energy needs.

Thin Film Solar


Image by Walmart Shops
In Sept. 2010, Walmart announced it will install solar energy generating systems on 20 to 30 locations in California and Arizona in the subsequent 12 months. The majority of these web sites will utilize thin film panels as seen on the Mountain View, Calif. shop.

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NanoSolar’s thin film solar power
Video Rating: five / five

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