New Process Turns Silicon Chips into Solar Panels

#1 (**permalink**) 14th-November-2007, 08:17 AM

What this process does is remove the remnants of the intellectual property from the wafers surface. This allows the wafers to be reused, or ideally, turned into solar panels. The process has been deemed innovative enough to be awarded the “2007 Most Valuable Pollution Prevention Award” from The National Pollution Prevention Roundtable.

http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/11/12/...-solar-panels/

spadlet · #2 (**permalink**) 21st-November-2007, 10:51 PM

centralpabiofuel · #3 (**permalink**) 24th-November-2007, 08:42 AM

Does anyone really think that 3.3 million silicon wafers isoging to make a
dent? I guess that it is great as far as them being recycled but those
wafers are pretty small. I can't see this really taking off unless these
panels made of wafers aremore efficient than what iscoming out of San
Jose. They have some amazing solar technologies that are increasing
efficiency by 50% and some thatare micro-thin flexible plastic. Who wants
brittle, thick, heavy silicon.

But hey, it's recycled!!