New advancement in solar panels...half the cost of silicone.?

Question

Has anyone heard of or researched the new solar panel design of using cadmium telluride instead of silicone in solar panels. Supposedly half the cost. A company called AVA Solar, through research at Colorado State is developing them.

http://welcome.colostate.edu/features/ava-solar.aspx

Sounds very exciting and enormous potential.

Answer 1

My understanding pretty much matches that of Campbel's.

Thin film technology is extremely promising, but still in development.  The thin film products that are on the market are expensive at this point - because the technology is not fully commericalized.  It is expected to dramatically reduce the cost of solar panels to the point where they start to become cost-competitive with other electric generation sources.

You're right.  It is very exciting.

Answer 2

Yes, thin film solar cells are expected to reduce the cost of solar power to the point that it can compete with coal and oil. We are talking about reducing the cost to manufacture a cell than can make 1 watt of power in full sunlight from $3 to $1. I am told that $3 per watt is already competitive in Japan where coal and oil are all imported, but most of the rest of the world needs $1 per watt to make it worth while. Many companies are working on thin film solar cells. Many many. It is not just one company working on one kind of thin film solar cell technology.

Answer 3

Solar power has really made some awesome advancements. A company called Reware puts solar panels on the side of bags and etc. Another, much bigger company, First Solar Inc. has had awesome growth with its solar technology.