Comments on: CIGS cell makers battle it out for efficiency crown

Global Solar says it's number one in solar cells made from copper indium gallium selenide, but so does Nanosolar.

[Imalittleteapot]

Is this?

Is this another one of those science articles that talks about stuff that works in the lab, but in practice never actually works in the real world?

For thirty years since I was kid in school I was told how one day everything is going to be solar powered. I wonder if they still tell kids that.

Anyway, I've been waiting and waiting and waiting. Maybe this is it!!!! WOOO HOOOO!!!!!

[RandyWayne]

When will we see it?

We're moving to the Phoenix, AZ area in a few short months and do plan on installing a sizable solar panel system on our home.
It is not cheap.
And I have been hearing about these breakthroughs every 3 to 6 months for years now and nothing has yet to materialize. I hope it does someday, but for now, we're about to invest a boatload of cash on a system that will future proof us against any huge energy spike costs.

[Roger Carmichael]

Photon surface refraction/absorption

The company who first realizes the nature of photon interaction with surfaces will be most successful.
Few realize an FM antenna is the optimum shape for
any nanometric absorption of solar lightwaves, ie
to optimize absorption, conductor lengths must be
halfwave to interact with a given wavelength.
We learned this at Nat'l Solar Observatory design
of superpolished solar mirrors to control scatter

[crooktw]

photon surface refraction/absorption

Can you expand on your comment?

[ronwagn]

I think that solar is a great idea in Phoenix. I think the main argument against it might be that older folks might not see the payback in their lifetime.

[bookwerm]

Watts/dollar matter!

The primary driver is going to be, when the technology is mature, which option offers the highest wattage output per dollar! Dollar cost now is not as relevant, as some methods can be much more expensive up front for "one offs", but can be VERY efficient in large scale production. This is also Watts/Dollar INSTALLED! A very low efficiency system that is also cheap will need MORE area (more land etc) and more structure to hold it up (even if simply tensioned), but I would expect that to be a weak cost driver.

[williambhunter]

The price per watt of solar energy has been coming down consistently, while the price per watt of oil has been rising consistently. The solar revolution will not happen until the two prices cross, than we will see a state change in which solar starts replacing oil based energy for home and building energy needs. To see how fast this can happen, look only to the LED revolution. For years LED costs were coming down at a steady rate, until they finally crossed the threshold of incandescent lights. Within a few years, every new traffic light and every new vehicle tail light was LED based. It happened so quick that no one really noticed. The same will happen for solar in the next few years.

[profinder]

How does one manufactue CIGS???
Wats the easiest and cheapes way of doing it.???
A way such that I could make it in my college project!!
anyone??

[Stepastray]

DO YOUR HOMEWORK

Salicru S.A. and Sustainable to Introduce High-Yield "Parallel" Solutions for Thin Film PV
Leading EU Power Electronics Company to Private Label Parallel Inverters: Places Initial Order for $6.2M

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - Jan. 22, 2009) - Sustainable Energy Technologies Ltd (TSX VENTURE:STG) ("Sustainable Energy" or the "Company") and Salicru S.A ("Salicru") announced today that the two companies will partner to bring Sustainable Energy's revolutionary "parallel" inverter technology to the European rooftop and building integrated solar power market.

Under the agreement, Salicru will distribute Sustainable's next generation of solar inverters ("Gen II") under the "Salicru" brand label throughout its markets in Southern Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and the Asia Pacific countries. Salicru is recognized as one of Europe's top power electronics companies, and is, indisputably, the market leader in Spain and Portugal, with an extensive distribution network throughout the region.

Sustainable's inverter technology is the first to offer the inherently higher yields and lower balance of system cost of a massively parallel system architecture to the thin film industry. In rooftop and building integrated solar applications, a parallel architecture enables more extensive coverage of the rooftop, much greater system design flexibility, and simpler lower cost installation of the modules.

"Salicru's commitment validates our vision that thin film technologies will be a major part of the future of the rooftop and building integrated solar PV markets, accelerating the industry's drive for grid parity" said Michael Carten, President and CEO of Sustainable Energy. "We are very excited to be partnering with a company of Salicru's stature to introduce the power of the parallel architecture to the European market; and to demonstrate its contribution to lowering electricity costs and delivering higher investor yields," added Carten.

Commenting on the agreement, Eduard Salicru, Managing Director of Salicru said: "We are looking forward to our partnership with Sustainable. In our opinion, thin film PV will take a large share of the solar market within the next two years because of its lower cost per watt and better performance in hot weather markets. Sustainable has a product which enhances thin film's cost and hot weather advantages and Salicru is very optimistic about the market potential."