Solar cells becoming thinner and cheaper

Tuesday, 18 September, 2007

Scientists at Durham University in the UK are researching cheaper ways of harnessing the sun to increase the economic viability of solar energy and reduce reliance on fossil fuel energy.

Light-absorbing materials are being developed for use in thin-layer solar photovoltaic (PV) cells to convert light energy into electricity. Thicker silicon-based cells containing indium, a rare and expensive metal, are more commonly used to make solar panels today.

The research focuses on developing thin-layer PV cells using copper indium diselenide and cadmium telluride. It's hoped that more affordable thin-film PV cells could lead to a reduction in the cost of solar panels for the domestic market and an increase in the use of solar power, with any surplus electricity being fed back to the national grid.

Related News

An interconnected ASEAN Power Grid: report

DNV forecasts that decarbonising the energy supply across the ASEAN member states could result in...

100 years of SA's classic power pole

2024 marks the 100th anniversary of the distinctive Stobie pole — a steel-beamed power pole...

SA Power Networks to vastly expand use of drones

The utility has been working with Carbonix to advance the use of drones in aerial inspection work...


  • All content Copyright © 2024 Westwick-Farrow Pty Ltd