Wired Science: Thin-Film Solar Startup Debuts with $4 Billion in Contracts

A startup with a secret recipe for printing cheap solar cells on aluminum foil debuted today, in what could end up a milestone for the industry.

Nanosolar’s technology consists of sandwiches of copper, indium, gallium, and selenide (CIGS) that are 100 times thinner than the silicon solar cells that dominate the solar photovoltaics market. Its potential convinced Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page to back the company as angel investors in its early days.

Two big announcements marked its coming out party: The company has $4 billion in contracts and can make money selling its products for $1 per watt of a panel’s capacity. That’s cheap enough to compete with fossil fuels in markets across the world.

Specifically, the company’s management thinks it can help utilities avoid the difficulties of getting big coal and nuclear power plants built by offering the option to build small solar farms they can build close to cities.

(via Thin-Film Solar Startup Debuts with $4 Billion in Contracts | Wired Science | Wired.com)

Bright Blind

LED-powered Bright Blind (via GNR8Pipeline)

Rebuilding A Green Community

Rebuilding A Green Community
After a tornado devastated Greensburg, Kan., residents and contractors came together to rebuild using green technology. Maggie Rodriguez reports.

[Video] Hanover tech fair goes green

[Video] Hanover tech fair goes green
As the world's biggest technology fair opens, the IT industry is under pressure to reduce its carbon footprint.

[Video] Could This Car Fight Global Warming?

[Video] Could This Car Fight Global Warming?
A Swiss adventurer, on a round the world trip in his solar powered car, has arrived in New Delhi where he hopes to spread his message to stop global warming. (Nov. 7)

Cybercar to cut congestion

Affordable Film Thin Solar Strips

Popular Mechanics has published their 2005 Breakthrough Awards, in which they showcase some of today's most promising and interesting scientific innovations (yeah, they shill, but still interesting). One of the more interesting entries is flexible photovoltaic plastic. The ultra-thin energy producers are being developed by the 2000 Nobel Prize winner in chemistry, Alan Heeger. The more interesting part: the actual energy harnessing chemistry occurs within the solution of semiconducting polymers that can be painted onto surfaces such as roofs, tents, clothing and pets whatnot. It doesn't hurt that the stuff is easier to mass produce and cheaper than big grandpa solar panel. From the article: 'Solar energy is going to happen,' says Heeger. 'It will happen sooner and on a larger scale if we can provide a lower-cost technology.'

I hope he's right.

Link from Popular Mechanics (via House Hacker)

Banning incandescent light bulbs

From BBC News:

Australia has announced plans to ban incandescent light bulbs and replace them with more energy efficient fluorescent bulbs.

The environment minister said the move could cut the country's greenhouse gas emissions by 4 million tonnes by 2012.

"It's a little thing but it's a massive change," Malcolm Turnbull said.

The decision will make Australia the first country to ban the light bulbs, although the idea has also been proposed in the US state of California.

Link provided by Make: (via BBC News)