With the rise in carbon levels from the burning of fossil fuels, people have started to take note of renewable energy, solar in particular. <\/p>\n
They are above all, free, clean and commercially viable. <\/p>\n
And now American researchers are investigating new methods to produce solar cells, which will capture the sun\u2019s energy.
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\nOregon State University is at the centre of this latest development. It\u2019s based on the same technology used in inkjet printers, which print documents and photos. <\/p>\n
The researchers have claimed that this process would cut raw material usage by 90%. They have also said it would be a quicker and cheaper way to create solar technology, than what is currently manufactured. <\/p>\n
Professor Chih-hung Chang, who is heading the research, said: \u201cThis is very promising and could be an important new technology to add to the solar energy field. <\/p>\n
\u201cSolar energy is the most abundant and clean energy source on Earth. <\/p>\n
“Considering the high price of petroleum and other fossil fuels, solar cells will definitely have a bright future.”<\/p>\n
The research team are experimenting with a material with greater solar efficiency than silicon (used in solar panels), known as chalcopyrite. <\/p>\n
The chalcopyrite is printed onto the cell surface, in a similar manner to how the inkjet printer works. <\/p>\n
So far, scientists have been able to achieve efficiency of just 5%, but they intend to at least double this figure before it hits the solar market. <\/p>\n
Another member of the research team, Wei Wang, said: \u201cWe produced [chalcopyrite] CIGS solar cells using cheap inkjet printing under normal conditions.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome of the materials we want to work with for the most advanced solar cells, such as indium, are relatively expensive. <\/p>\n
“If that’s what you’re using you can’t really afford to waste it, and the inkjet approach almost eliminates the waste.\u201d<\/p>\n
While this technology is still being developed, solar panels are available and can be installed on the roof of your home. You will then reap all the benefits of using a renewable energy source. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
With the rise in carbon levels from the burning of fossil fuels, people have started to take note of renewable energy, solar in particular. They … <\/p>\n