A Japanese company named Clean Venture 21 (CV21) claims to curb the overall cost of producing solar cells by 50 percent. Isn’t that a remarkable step up for a greener tomorrow? The key to produce cheap effective solar cells is placing tiny spheres of silicon in reflective trays. The photovoltaic (PV) cells are made up of arrays of thousands of tiny silicon spheres surrounded by hexagonal reflector.
The entire concept is to reduce the silicon required. CV21 started production of its cells in October; the first of its 10-kilowatt modules go on sale this month. While these modules will initially cost about the same as the traditional variety, the price is set to drop by 30 percent in 2008, as production increases in May from 1,000 cells a day to 60,000 cells a day, says Murozono. The ultimate goal is to make them 50 percent cheaper than existing cells by 2010.
The idea is to place each of the one-millimeter-diameter silicon spheres in its own hexagonal aluminium reflector. These work like car headlights but in reverse, ensuring that any light hitting the reflector is directed toward the sphere. When this approach is used, even the underside of the sphere is utilized. The hexagonal shape of the reflectors allows them to be slotted together without dead space between them.
Via: TechnologyReview
