Nanosolar ships 'cheap' solar cells - bit-tech.net Forums

CardJoe · 19th Dec 2007, 12:57

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2007/12..._solar_cells/1

Solar power specialists Nanosolar have announced mass-production of cheap-ish panels, and if you're desperate you can even get one on eBay.

RinSewand · 19th Dec 2007, 14:43

hrmmm, looks like it could be a good way to justify the folding farm! Wonder when they're going to start selling the cheep ones commercially

RwD

MrWillyWonka · 19th Dec 2007, 14:51

If it becomes more affordable (as in < £250 for me) to be able to solely power my computer and monitor then I would definitely buy a panel, it would save money in the long run and with a 25 year warranty I don't see why people shouldn't have this as "essential hardware".

<A88> · 19th Dec 2007, 15:18

Very nice

I definitely wouldn't mind one or two if they were practical enough to install and run- as RinSewand said, it would justify running something like a home server 24/7 where power consumption has been my only turn-off.

<A88>

wuyanxu · 19th Dec 2007, 16:03

so they've finally managed to produce the 2nd generation solar cells. but problem is, what is the efficiency? and that is its life time? (solar cells degrade, cheaper ones degrade faster)

i think it's better to produce super high efficient solar cells, and then use mirror arrays to have higher intensity of light rather than cheap, soon-to-wear-out solar cells

leexgx · 19th Dec 2007, 17:39

that bid is at £5000 heh

most likely going to take 5-10 years before solar panels become affordable, taken 10 years just to nock off £5000 ish to fit them fully

Cupboard · 19th Dec 2007, 18:51

At the moment, I think we are best just sticking to huge arrays of mirrors that heat water - they are fairly cheap, fairly efficient and very simple. Unlike this. Time will tell though - we really need to progress in the renewable area, although I think we need to go nuclear now, to buy us time to develop new tech.

willyolio · 19th Dec 2007, 21:14

now if only i had a tesla roadster...

BurningFeetMan · 19th Dec 2007, 21:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cupboard

At the moment, I think we are best just sticking to huge arrays of mirrors that heat water - they are fairly cheap, fairly efficient and very simple. Unlike this. Time will tell though - we really need to progress in the renewable area, although I think we need to go nuclear now, to buy us time to develop new tech.

Don't forget the solar panels have their place too. You can cover the roof tops of the urban sprawl with them. Or you can take them camping to power & recharge your laptop.

Andy Mc · 19th Dec 2007, 22:25

OK seriously, who is going to spend the current asking price, US $10,300.00 , on a solar panel that they will not get until 2009?

From the fleabay auction:

"This solar panel is currently in Seller’s possession but it will be held in escrow until 6/1/2009 before local pick-up by the winning bidder (or shipment at cost to the winning bidder)."

WTF?

woodshop · 19th Dec 2007, 23:37

At $1 a watt thats is only $2 to $3 thousand to power most houses... thats a far cry from the current $25 to $30 thousand or more...
That said even IF they only last 10 years instead of 25 your still saving a crap load from the current tech.

sendrome · 20th Dec 2007, 04:38

Is that the CEO of Nanosolar or Robin Williams?

Cptn-Inafinus · 20th Dec 2007, 09:42

Well well well. This is certianly intresting technology. I imagine lots of public service building such as school and what not using this kind of technology prodominantly. I mean there is alot of area on these buildings roofs.

Javerh · 20th Dec 2007, 15:22

Don't forget the need for backup power. Nobody likes their Crysis interrupted by a lone cloud in the sky.

Cthippo · 20th Dec 2007, 19:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Javerh

Don't forget the need for backup power. Nobody likes their Crysis interrupted by a lone cloud in the sky.

Sure, but that works both ways. When you are generating more power than you need you provide someone elses backup power. In theory, this could work very well, when you are running an excess of power you sell it to the grid and when you run a deficit you buy it from the grid. The grid managemnt company charges a small spread on the buy/sell prices to cover maintainence and also handles transmission from conventional plants needed to make up for large consumers. The technology for this kind of distribution currently exists, what's lacking is suitable microgenerators.

DXR_13KE · 20th Dec 2007, 21:18

there is also some guys that are making solar paint......

19th Dec 2007, 12:57	#1
CardJoe Player Character bit-tech Staff Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 8,009	Nanosolar ships 'cheap' solar cells http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2007/12..._solar_cells/1 Solar power specialists Nanosolar have announced mass-production of cheap-ish panels, and if you're desperate you can even get one on eBay. __________________ this is joe's non-bit-tech blog

19th Dec 2007, 14:43	#2
RinSewand Useful Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wakefield, UK Posts: 881	hrmmm, looks like it could be a good way to justify the folding farm! Wonder when they're going to start selling the cheep ones commercially RwD __________________ Dell Studio 1536 : Dell 2405FPW Canon EOS 450D : EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS : EF 50mm f/1.8 : Manfrotto 190XPROB + 808RC4 Nexxo: "Understand more, judge less."

19th Dec 2007, 14:51	#3
MrWillyWonka . Moderator Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Southampton, Hants Posts: 5,746	If it becomes more affordable (as in < £250 for me) to be able to solely power my computer and monitor then I would definitely buy a panel, it would save money in the long run and with a 25 year warranty I don't see why people shouldn't have this as "essential hardware". __________________ Project Red - HL2 - PSOne LCD S-Video Guide Main Rig: Asus Striker Extreme, Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 G0 OC'd to 2.65GHz, 4GB Corsair XMS, 8800GTS in SLI, 36 & 74GB Raptors

19th Dec 2007, 16:03	#5
wuyanxu quad fuelled, GTX200 powered Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: in a room near Soton Uni. UK Posts: 3,943	so they've finally managed to produce the 2nd generation solar cells. but problem is, what is the efficiency? and that is its life time? (solar cells degrade, cheaper ones degrade faster) i think it's better to produce super high efficient solar cells, and then use mirror arrays to have higher intensity of light rather than cheap, soon-to-wear-out solar cells __________________ Death to consolification !!!Core i7 860 @ 4Ghz Cooled by Corsair H50 // Asus P7P55D Deluxe // 8GB of Corsair Dominators @ 1528Mhz 8-8-8-24 // BFG gtx260+ OC2 MaxCore 216SP 896MB // Samsung 64GB SSD // WD Raptor 74GB + Black 1TB + Green 1TB // Corsair Hx620w // Antec p182 // Samsung 24" T240

19th Dec 2007, 17:39	#6
leexgx CPC hang out zone (i Fix pcs i do ) Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: uk Posts: 571	that bid is at £5000 heh most likely going to take 5-10 years before solar panels become affordable, taken 10 years just to nock off £5000 ish to fit them fully __________________ Qx6850 (OC 3.3Ghz) <> 120 extreme<> rampage forumla <> 9800GX2 <> 8gb 4x2gb (2x gell / 2x adata)<> SSD powered Corsair S128 / WD Black 1TB <> Crative X-fi FalTy FPS <> TK 1000w Toughpower <win7 x64> Click me for folding stats greenfrog.biz / 35947

19th Dec 2007, 15:18	#4
<A88> Trust the Computer Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Bournemouth Posts: 4,797	Very nice I definitely wouldn't mind one or two if they were practical enough to install and run- as RinSewand said, it would justify running something like a home server 24/7 where power consumption has been my only turn-off. <A88>

19th Dec 2007, 18:51	#7
Cupboard I'm not a modder. Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Bury St Edmunds/Durham Uni Posts: 1,848	At the moment, I think we are best just sticking to huge arrays of mirrors that heat water - they are fairly cheap, fairly efficient and very simple. Unlike this. Time will tell though - we really need to progress in the renewable area, although I think we need to go nuclear now, to buy us time to develop new tech. __________________ i7 920, 8800GTS 512, 6GB Corsair all in an Intel DX58SO; 3*320GB RAID5; CM Stacker Samsung Q45.

19th Dec 2007, 21:14	#8
willyolio Multimodder Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 136	now if only i had a tesla roadster...

19th Dec 2007, 22:25	#10
Andy Mc Supermodder Join Date: May 2002 Location: Worcester, UK Posts: 489	OK seriously, who is going to spend the current asking price, US $10,300.00 , on a solar panel that they will not get until 2009? From the fleabay auction: "This solar panel is currently in Seller’s possession but it will be held in escrow until 6/1/2009 before local pick-up by the winning bidder (or shipment at cost to the winning bidder)." WTF? __________________ "Seemed a harmless little ****........But we unleashed the lion" 'Jeremy' by Pearl Jam

19th Dec 2007, 23:37	#11
woodshop UnSeenly Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: The Depths Of Hades Posts: 1,381	At $1 a watt thats is only $2 to $3 thousand to power most houses... thats a far cry from the current $25 to $30 thousand or more... That said even IF they only last 10 years instead of 25 your still saving a crap load from the current tech.

20th Dec 2007, 04:38	#12
sendrome the whole #!/bin/sh Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 3	Is that the CEO of Nanosolar or Robin Williams?

20th Dec 2007, 09:42	#13
Cptn-Inafinus Peanut Extrordinare! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Crieff, Scotland Posts: 401	Well well well. This is certianly intresting technology. I imagine lots of public service building such as school and what not using this kind of technology prodominantly. I mean there is alot of area on these buildings roofs. __________________ My Photography A few more of those

20th Dec 2007, 15:22	#14
Javerh Superfreak Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Tampere, Finland Posts: 655	Don't forget the need for backup power. Nobody likes their Crysis interrupted by a lone cloud in the sky. __________________ Project: Seawolf "Problems cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them."

20th Dec 2007, 21:18	#16
DXR_13KE Madeira's banana is the best!!! Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Madeira ; Portugal Posts: 6,480	there is also some guys that are making solar paint...... __________________ RENEGADE X CONTEST! <---- CLICK if you want to win a free Command & Conquer 4 beta key!