Comments on: Solar start-up snags $35 million as CIGS ignites

Will CIGS technology challenge silicon in solar panels? Venture capitalists are helping fuel the debate.

[chrisw63]

Sounds good, but where are the details?

Ok, so CIGS isn't as efficient as current silicon panels, but what are the numbers? Also, how about lifetime considerations, mechanical durability... If they are 10% less efficient but 50% cheaper, great.. unless you have to replace them every 2 years. Unless cold climate freeze-thaw cycles kill half of them in one season. This is a techno-geek-ish newsletter - Show me the numbers!!!

[stevenmcs]

Nano Tech

Nanotech has a website. Thay are neer San Francisco. I first found out about it from RenewableEnergyAccess.com's email newsletter

[Gravitas]

I'd like to see more real info and less hyperbole.

I don't see any comparative figures anywhere or for that matter any figures
One site suggests that CIGS are 18% efficient in the lab and another site talks about some kind of silicon cell being 24.5% efficient. CIGS lifetime of around 13-15 years but can currently degrade in high temp and high humidity.

In upstate NY what ever outdoor equipment has to be able to take from the 90's to maybe -20 degrees. All of the sites I've checked out who are making CIGS have no actual products to sell off the shelf, only made to order. This sounds like they aren't cheap enough yet.

Miasole or is it Mi as ole, what an unfortunate choice of name.

[Blito]

Cancer city

You hear about all this new tech but where are the health studies.

Wouldn't having a massive power grid on your roof constitute a cancer risk.
maybe maybe not but why not ask these questions? At At least there should be guidelines as to how close at what amount of power they should be placed to humans. Not in the Blind Bushie era I guess.

[Seaspray0]

Not likely

You wouldn't be exposed to anymore electrical power than you are now. This isn't a Utility's power plant, most of the installations generate roughly what the home uses. The solar cells do not emmit high frequency radiation, they provide direct current (zero frequency). The output needs to be run through a DC to AC inverter to make it usable for house appliances but those are inside shielded metal boxes. The chance of getting cancer from a solar array is like the change of getting cancer from the breaker box in your house.

[Seaspray0]

Alternative solar generation

Cnet also posted an article of converting solar energy to electricity using reflective panels to concentrate the light to either solar cells or a sterling engine. How cost effective are they compared to the film mentioned in this article?