How efficient can we make thin-film solar cells?
One of the more interesting and promising products for low-cost electricity generation from solar cells is the use of thin-film solar cells. And new design technique could be just the thing to make these cells more efficient. The idea is to take flat solar cells and bend them so that they are in a v-shape.PhysOrg.com reports the following about thin-film solar cells:
Peumans says that there is already a company working on this technique, 'trying to improve the concept and trying to get even higher efficiency out of it.' He also points out that he and his colleagues performed a cost analysis on their method. 'Companies would have to figure it out on a case by case basis,' he concedes, 'but the numbers we looked at indicated that you could produce solar modules at a lower cost per installed Watt.'
Interest in mass-producing thin-film solar cells is picking up. Heliovolt, a company in Texas, recently received a $77 million investment in its process to produce cost efficient solar cells. And First Solar (FSLR) continues to innovate its cutting-edge product. As innovation continues, and as solar cells become cheaper to make, more people will buy them. And this is good news for renewable energy companies.
Apparently the interest is rising in renewable energy. Big Oil companies continue to try to block innovation by complaining about fuel standards and some of them choose not to diversify their holdings with renewable energy. In the end, though, this could cause problems for share prices.
Disclosure: I do not own FSLR. I am interested in investing in solar stocks and I have some renewable energy holdings.