Honda announced today that it is entering the solar cell market starting 2007. Honda's solar cell technology appears to be non silicon based and it claims to be easier and efficient to manufacture. Read more here
I feel Honda's entry into the market signals a maturing of the technology and the market. Although, the operating efficiency of a solar cell still has ways to go. On an average, I think the operating efficiency of a solar cell is somewhere around 15-20%.
While on the topic of operating efficiency, the Defense agency DARPA made news recently when they decided to fund a University of Delaware led project that aims to create Very High Efficiency Solar Cells (VHESC) with operating efficiency reaching 50%
Just to put things in perspective, a thermal power plant I believe operates at efficiencies of 34 -38%
Quote of the day
"The use of solar energy has not been opened up because the oil industry does not own the sun"~ Ralph Nader (via brainyquote.com)
1 comment:
I'm glad Honda is taking this step. I found it interesting that the Honda article stresses that their process is 50% cleaner to manufacture the cells. Usually we don't hear about the chemical/biological waste products that are generated in manufacturing an energy source, only how efficient it is. But it is really critically important to optimize efficiency while still keeping the pollutants in check. Hats off to the Japanese!
I will be the first customer of the first fully solar powered automobile Honda produces, if they'll let me ;)
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