Researchers at New Mexico State University and Wake Forest University have found that solar panels made of plastic can be more productive than ones made of silicon — an expensive and fragile material.
Organic solar cells are constructed out of plastic that is relatively inexpensive, flexible and can be wrapped around structures or even applied like paint. To be effective producers of energy, organic cells must be able to convert 10 percent of the energy in sunlight to electricity. At this point, the best they have been able to do is up to 4 percent, while typical silicon panels are about 12 percent efficient.
The research team has achieved a solar energy efficiency level of 5.2 percent which, according to physicist Seamus Curran, is a step closer to making organic solar cells that are available on the market. (sciencedaily.com)
It would sure be nice to get solar around $1 a watt... It would be nice to be able to realize a payback without a gov't check to realize it.
It would also be nice if the government didn't have to take it from you before they could give it back to you. ;D
Well,,, that's a given.. ;)
Haven't read the article yet, but....if they're so much cheaper is it possible that they don't need to be so efficient?
We sure can't make the numbers work on the existing ones...given that we're on the grid.
But, by-the-by, we're happy with the calculations that we made using John's Solar Kit. During high summer, the overhangs were on, the roof not. We could tell that the overhangs were going to work by the shadow lines.
This week I noticed that the sun penetrates the building 3-4 ft most of the day. We figure as the sun lowers, it'll come farther into the building. Just what we hoped.
Thanks for the feedback on the Sunkit Shelly.
Always encouraging to hear from people who actually use this stuff!
With your NM climate you should find a very usable winter heating component coming in your south wall.
http://www.countryplans.com/solarkit.htm
From that link, and the pics on it, it looks like this is just suited for lower 48....is this right? Do you have a similar kit for AK?
No, you are right, the sun charts only go up into south Canada.
If you can find a sunchart for AK you could use the rest of the kit with it.
You can go to this site to generate sun charts for any location...
http://solardat.uoregon.edu/SunChartProgram.html
Link to Power Glass article.
http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/003613.html
(http://www.worldchanging.com/images/solarglass.jpg)