Here is a link describing the cost performance and composition of the new solar cells developed by Professor Alberts in Africa.
http://cooltech.iafrica.com/features/508857.htm
Best Regards,
Peter
From: Joe Street <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: Biofuel@sustainablelists.org
To: Biofuel@sustainablelists.org
Subject: Re: [Biofuel] [solar-ac] new highly efficient solarpower technology?
Date: Fri, 17 Feb 2006 15:19:24 -0500
Here is a primer for anyone interested in PV technologies that describes how one should approach the question in terms of cost and payback period which was written by a colleague of mine recently in response to just such a question;
Joe
First of all, PV modules are generally marked in terms of peak-wattage (Wp). This indicates the maximum wattage they can deliver. For example, a 100 Wp solar module means it is capable of delivering a maximum of 100W power. If that module costs X dollars, then we say the PV cost is X/100 $/Wp.
Crystalline silicon based solar modules usually come with a 20-25 year guarantee. This means, once purchased, they can be operational for this long. (maybe with a very small maintenance cost).
At present crystalline Si (which dominates > 85% of the PV market) PV modules cost some 5-7 $/Wp.
Now the question is, what does this mean to a Canadian household?
Let me explain this through an example:
Consider a Canadian household that uses 1000 kWh of electricity per month.
Take the current electricity cost as 6 cents/kWh.
So for a total period of 20 years, the electricity cost for that household is: 20 x 12 x 1000 x 0.06 = $14400
(this is of course assuming the electricity cost and value of money don't change over 20 years!)
Now let's see the costs if the same household utilizes the PV energy (with a 20-year guarantee) for electricity supply:
Say, the average full sunlight hours per day = 4
The peak-wattage of the module = W watts
So the total kWh that can be delivered by this module in 1 month = 4 x (W/1000) x 30
Since the household needs 1000 kWh/month, we have, 4 x (W/1000) x 30 = 1000
This gives us, W = 8333 Wp.
So the household has to purchase a 8333 Wp PV module.
Taking an average price of 6$/Wp, this will cost 6 x 8333 = $49998.
This is of course much higher than the $14400 we found above.
Therefore, the PV cost has to be brought down from the current 5 -7 $/Wp.
If the PV cost is, say, 1.5 $/Wp, the above calculation yields a value of $12500.
This value is very competitive to the grid electricity cost of $14400.
There are two aspects in the cost of PV cells: the silicon material cost and the fabrication technology cost. R&D efforts should be focused on reducing both these costs. For photovoltaic devices, the semiconductor material quality doesn't need to be as high as in the case of microelectronic industry for IC fabrication. Attempts should be made to use moderate quality (and therefore, low cost) silicon materials for PV fabrication. However moderate quality silicon contains material defects and impurities. Therefore research efforts should also be focused on developing affordable techniques for defect passivation of the low-cost materials, on new cell designs (i.e., novel device structures) that maximize the energy conversion efficiency, and on low-cost fabrication technologies for solar cells.
By tackling both these issues, i.e, material cost-reduction and technology cost-reduction, the PV cost can be brought down to competitive values.
Michael Redler wrote:
My attitude is a little more forgiving. If all they have to offer is what you mentioned earlier, then I could not have repeated your sentiments any better. But first, I want to see the numbers.Well, while I would like to to find out more about the alloy solar cells, the rest of the marketing is a bit disengenous. Grid tied PV systems that can provide all of a homes power and interface directly with the existing wiring have been around for at least 5 or 10 years, and the PV to provide the power has been around for 25 years. Get with the times people. It's like trying to sell a new model of car, and touting the fact that it has doors and seatbelts and a radio as major new selling points too... duh.
On 2/17/06, Michael Redler <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:This sounds like great news. However, I was disappointed not to see specific information about performance or expected cost per Watt for the consumer.Can anyone provide additional information?Thanks.There's a bit more to the article. The person who posted it on
a list couldn't find hardly anything other than this one article.
http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=116&art_id=vn20060211110132138C184427
In a scientific breakthrough that has stunned the world, a team of South
African scientists has developed a revolutionary new, highly efficient solar
power technology that will enable homes to obtain all their electricity from
the sun.
The unique South African-developed solar panels will make it possible for
houses to become completely self-sufficient for energy supplies.
The panels are able to generate enough energy to run stoves, geysers,
lights, TVs, fridges, computers - in short all the mod-cons of the modern
house.
The new technology should be available in South Africa within a year and
through a special converter, energy can be fed directly into the wiring of
existing houses. New powerful storage units will allow energy storage to
meet demands even in winter. The panels are so efficient they can operate
through a Cape Town winter. while direct sunlight is ideal for high-energy
generation, other daytime light also generates energy via the panels.
A team of scientists led by University of Johannesburg (formerly Rand
Afrikaans University) scientist Professor Vivian Alberts achieved the
breakthrough after 10 years of research. The South African technology has
now been patented across the world.
One of the world leaders in solar energy, German company IFE Solar Systems,
has invested more than R500-million in the South African invention and is
set to manufacture 500 000 of the panels before the end of the year at a new
plant in Germany.
Production will start next month and the factory will run 24 hours a day,
producing more than 1 000 panels a day to meet expected demand.
Another large German solar company is negotiating with the South African
inventors for rights to the technology, while a South African consortium of
businesses are keen to build local factories.
The new, highly efficient and cheap alloy solar panel is much more efficient
than the costly old silicone solar panels.
International experts have admitted that nothing else comes close to the
effectiveness of the South African invention.
The South African solar panels consist of a thin layer of a unique metal
alloy that converts light into energy. The photo-responsive alloy can
operate on virtually all flexible surfaces, which means it could in future
find a host of other applications.
Alberts said the new panels are approximately five microns thick (a human
hair is 20 microns thick) while the older silicon panels are 350 microns
thick. the cost of the South African technology is a fraction of the less
effective silicone solar panels.
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