oops....can't type....80 watts per meter squared !
(not nearly so good...lol)
From: "Peter Morgan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: Biofuel@sustainablelists.org
To: Biofuel@sustainablelists.org
Subject: Re: [Biofuel] new highly efficient solarpower technology
Date: Sat, 18 Feb 2006 15:23:32 +0000
You would think at 8000 watts per square meter the projected cost of 25% of current Si cells is pretty conservative.
Peter
From: "Zeke Yewdall" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: Biofuel@sustainablelists.org
To: Biofuel@sustainablelists.org
Subject: Re: [Biofuel] new highly efficient solarpower technology
Date: Fri, 17 Feb 2006 18:31:17 -0700
>It'll be nice to see some actual modules from that. It sounds similar
>to the Copper Indium DiSelenide modules that Siemens was producing,
>but with slightly different chemicals. Unfortuneatly, every sort of
>thin film PV that has been developed in the past 10 years has been
>trumpeted as being the great cost breakthrough in PV, because it uses
>so little raw material and can be deposited on any surface. So far,
>they all cost about $4/watt, jjust like the crystalline PV.... I hope
>they can live up to the hype this time.
>
>
>
>On 2/17/06, Peter Morgan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > 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.
> >
> > Mike
> >
> > Zeke Yewdall <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > 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.
> > >
> > > Mike
> > >
> > > Doug Kalmer <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > wrote:
> > > 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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