Solar cells cheaper and more efficient with low-quality Silicon

We told you of a new line of innovation in manufacturing of photovoltaic solar cells seems to reach one of the most important objectives for future of solar energy approach: increase efficiency and reduce the cost of the electricity generation.

Singapore researchers have taken advantage of the advanced technology that has developed in the creation of nanostructures to make a highly efficient Silicon cell and still cheaper. With this development, the researchers hope that the cost of solar energy can be reduced by half, which could certainly mean the opening of the renewable to millions of people in the world.

This development was carried out jointly by the University of technology of Nanyang (NTU) and the to * STAR Institute of microelectronics (IME). These new thin film solar cells using Silicon low-quality, a cheaper material, allowing a low final price. Exceptional for his invention is that they have found a technique which can generate electricity flows similar to those produced by traditional solar cells that contain such expensive high quality Silicon.

The new nano-estructuradas solar cells NTU-A * STAR can produce a stream of (34.3mA/cm2) - a world record for a solar cell of Silicon of class. This is possible through the creation of a unique texture using nanostructures on the surface of the solar cell, which are thousands of times smaller than a human hair.
To compare the resulting electrical current with the results of other types of solar cells, we can see it quite close to the traditional cells which is 40mA/cm2. While the conventional solar thin film cells typically produce about half of this stream.

The adoption of solar energy worldwide is hampered in large part by the high cost of traditional solar panels , and this is because they are made with high quality Silicon. To rectify this, has been used - as you had above - to low-quality amorphous silicon , a thin film has no texture-- which is 100 times thinner. However this material - is its natural form - is not as effective to convert sunlight into electricity, so it produces less energy.

The developed method is then to create a unique texture on the surface of amorphous, Silicon using nanostructures and thus improves the efficiency of conversion of energy (PCE) of thin film silicon cell and therefore increases the production of energy.
More about high efficiency solar cells:
Solar energy could have its future in the colder regions of the planet
Solar cells with efficiency of 45 %
High efficiency solar cells
A Virus improves the efficiency of solar cells
Solar Cell film fine record of 28.2% efficiency




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Mitsubishi iMiEV comes to us and will be the EV cheaper market

The very popular Japanese electric car Mitusbishi iMiEV, which is in the Spanish market for some months, it is by arriving at the United States. One of its top attractions will no doubt its price ($27.990 without discounting the incentives) so that become it the EV more cheaper in the United States. United States

To this base price, should detract from the different incentives that exist for the purchase of electricity, cars which without doubt are very interesting and it may lead to a final price up to 50% cheaper, or even more. To begin with, the U.S. Government provides a credit of $7,500 in federal taxes. They are joined the incentives offered by States, also in the form of tax credit, which can reach the juicy sums of $ 6,000 in Colorado or $5,000 in California.

There are also other regional or local benefits that can reach $3,000. On the outside of the State incentives , also any private such as for example company sony pictures which offers to its employees for a sum of $5,000 for the purchase of electric cars.He is expected that in November this year start selling, although already interested in the web site can register for the Mitusbishi iMiEV.




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