The push on green technology has recently resulted in a number of advancements in the field of solar energy. A lot of work is being done to make them more efficient, robust, less intensive, and more cost efficient. Researchers at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, have found a way to make flexible solar cells with silicon wires.
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Researchers at IBM have claimed to have found a new path to solar power, one that will make solar panels a lot more cheaper. The cheaper part is achieved by the use of “Earth abundant” elements, the use of which will be comparatively more cost effective than the Copper, Indium, Gallium, and Selenium that GIGS thin film cells use.
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Currently, polymer solar cells are far behind the conventional silicon solar cells. However, as thrusts for green energy continue, the relative low cost of the polymer solar cells could play a big role, and the huge jumps these cells are making in terms of efficiency only makes things better for them. A recently developed nano-patterned array production technique showed researchers a seven-fold increase in efficiency as compared to the conventional sandwich-style construction.
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Tobacco plants are probably looking at greener credentials, and a product far more enticing than cigarettes. Researchers at UC Berkeley have succeeded in making the plant grow synthetic photovoltaic cells. These cells can then be extracted from the plants and be put to the job of solar cells.
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Solar cells, as we all know, generate energy by absorbing the sun’s rays. A good portion of the solar energy incident on these cells is reflected back, and as such not used in the generation of power. So, solar cells could be made more efficient at creating electricity from incident light. Another method to increase the efficiency would require making the manufacturing process cheaper. Sixtron Advanced Materials, a company based in Montreal, claims to have created a new process that could do both the jobs listed above.
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Apple have been known for trying out various green technology – now, it seems they’re looking into new ways to power the iPod – with solar cells integrated into it. This was revealed by a patent application, showing solar cells used in an iPod.

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In an effort to reduce electricity consumption, General Electric Company is going to combine energy-efficient lighting and energy-efficient appliances with energy management systems and renewable power generators. The systems – named ‘Net Zero Energy Home’ – involves photovoltaic cells and thin-film solar cells as well as advanced energy storage products that help save energy.

General Electric said in a press release that it is working with utility and government partners to help improve the power grid – “which has not changed much since the days of Thomas Edison” – in ways that will not cause consumers to “compromise their lifestyles.”

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A United States-based company is seeking to produce the tiniest solar cells ever made. Semprius, based in Durham, North Carolina, was inspired by research conducted by Professor John A Rogers and his team at the University of Illinois.

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Japan says it is a leader in solar cell manufacturing. Taiwan and China want a piece of Japan’s solar panel market, especially considering the onslaught of business that is expected.

Meanwhile, a Taiwanese solar cell manufacturer Gintech Energy Corp. will supply Japanese companies this year on an OEM basis.

Low-cost production is why Gintech hopes to sell 50,000kw to 75,000 kW worth of solar cells each year to Japan. Gintech is already talking with Japanese clients – specifically, those companies that assemble and market solar power systems.

Gintech has a solar cell production capacity of 660,000 kW a year in Taiwan. Gintech’s major market is Europe and has sold just 5,000 kW of solar cells to a Japan.

Suntech Power Holdings Co. is the world’s third-largest solar cell manufacturer. The Chinese producer hopes to begin a major sales push in Japan also this year. “We are now able to supply sufficient volume of products to the Japanese market,” Chief Executive Officer Zhengrong Shi says.

And we’re on a good track, isn’t it?

Original image by Okinawa Soba

With Tokyo expected to make buying surplus solar power at double the cost a requirement demand for solar panels is expected to climb in Japan.

Image by richardmasoner

Sharp Corp. and Kyocera Corp. are Japan’s biggest solar cell manufacturers. However, Chinese, Taiwanese and other foreign solar cell makers are getting ready to enter the market in Japan.

There is a 2nd International Photovoltaic Power Generation Expo happening in Tokyo this week.

1. Taiwan’s Sun Well Solar Corp. has thin-film solar cells. The company already sells two types of solar cells, one see-through, mainly in Germany and Spain.
2. Chinalight Solar Co. manufacturers and sells machinery hopes to start selling its solar cells in Japan through the machinery sales network.
3. Most Chinese and Taiwanese sell their solar goods in Europe. Now they take aim at Japan.
4. Some Japanese chemical companies are aiming to enter into the solar cell business.
5. Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. is working on an organic thin-film solar cell  with built-in solar cells.
6. Fujikura Ltd. is displaying pigment-sensitized solar cells at the expo.
7. Kyocera is displaying a  polysilicon module cell that maximizes the light-capturing area by placing the electrodes on its back.
8. Mitsubishi Electric Corp. is promoting a polysilicon solar cell that uses infrared rays.
9. Sharp’s is displaying a solar module that requires an installation space of just 13 sq. meters.

In the end, the customer and the Earth will win this competition, eh?

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