Solar Cell Technology

Solar technology is growing and expanding into the third and fourth generation of solar cells.  The technology is giving solar power lighter, more efficient, and less expensive attributes.  Organizations like the American Solar Energy Society are progressing with their task of promoting solar energy as a sustainable technology and advancing the pursuit of solar cell technology.

The First Generation

Many of the solar cells that are currently in the market place are first generation (or crystalline) solar cells.  First generation solar cells are the most expensive to produce because of the amount of money it takes to extract silicon from sand and then purify it before growing the crystals. The cost to produce first generation solar cells is then passed on to the consumer.

Solar cell technology is still a difficult sale to homeowners who realize that their investment will take an average of 15 years to get back, but according to those who have effective solar arrays, the price is well worth it.  Solar panels are easy to use, collect power in a natural way, and they last for decades.  Some of the first generation solar panels are still producing power even today.

The Second Generation

Second generation solar cells are mounted on glass substrates.  The production costs that were plaguing first generation solar cells find some relief with the second generation.  There are many companies who desire to release second-generation thin film solar cells to the public.

The material used in second generation solar cells are normally; amorphous silicon, micro-crystalline silicon, cadmium telluride (”CadTel”) and copper indium selenide/sulfide.

The Third Generation

The third generation is the best and the cheapest of all.  Third generation solar cells is exactly what the sun-powered industry needs in order to go mainstream.  As solar cell technology continues to evolve records in solar conversion efficiency will continue to rise and cost will continue to drop.  The third generation of solar cell technologies focuses on reducing manufacturing cost and enhancing the electrical performance of older solar cell technology.

Nanotechnology is one of the things that is being researched by the third generation.    Nanotechnology is used to improve the basic solar cell to have improved electrical performance which also makes it more cost efficient.

Nanosolar, a well-known and popular company is one of the global leaders in solar cell technologies.  Nanosolar is most noted for its thin-film solar panels.  Its solar panels were voted as one of the best inventions of 2008.

Solar Cell Technology and Developing Nations

Some poverty stricken countries within Africa, which are plagued with disease such as HIV or malaria, find that the only way they can keep their medical facilities up and running is with solar power.  More communities in Africa without public power are able to run functioning medical facilities, thanks to the sun.

In developing countries, where sunlight is abundant yet half of the population doesn’t have electricity, solar technologists have found their biggest and fastest growing markets.  Places like India, Mexico, and Egypt all have solar projects that are currently underway.  If these projects prove to be successful more opportunities could arise for other developing nations.