Solar cells to print out on an inkjet printer

[hoon]

Could you imagine how much more we could help the environment if Solar cells could be printed from an Inkjet Printer, well this is possible thanks to a company called Konarka Technologies” based in Massachusetts.

They have successfully demonstrated the ability to use an inkjet printer to print solar cells; this would reduce the cost of making solar panels if it gets into real world production.

Silicon Valley-backed company makes solar cells via inkjet printer - Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal:

[bruce]

I'll bet the ink for these things will still be cheaper than the £8,000 a gallon HP charges for regular printers.

Seriously though, this is awesome news.

[debs]

See they have backing from 3i. They're usually pretty clued up with new technologies. Great stuff if it does work

[sparky]

We can hope, but for thirty plus years, we've had promises, exciting developments, etc. without seeing any truly revolutionary products come to market. Some nice improvements, yes, but nothing which could even begin to wean us from fossil fuels. I hope this will prove to be the exception, but the cynic in me keeps the excitement in check.

[emz]

Sounds good. I presume this won't be something we can print out at home though?

[LMagic007]

I think there have been many technological advancements over the last 30 years, but I see the main issue being cost. Fossil fuel is still relatively cheap, making all the developments in solar and other renewable energy technologies seem less significant, due in part to them being cost prohibitive, in the face of a very powerful Fossil Fuel industry. However one might bear in mind that ;

- The Fossil Fuel industry has been subsidised with tax breaks for decades.

- No carbon tax has ever been applied to Fossil Fuels, a cost we will pay in future if not already in terms of the environment , that will translate into real dollar economic costs in future. This is the hidden subsidy of fossil fuels.

I think it would take mind boggling advancements in alternative energy technologies, for them to be competitive with fossil fuels and I don't think we can realistically expect such advancements for most cases. The vast majority of technical developments are incremental. Also, whatever man seems to develop, demand always seems to outstrip supply, which drives up cost. In light of this, Fossil Fuel is getting more expensive due to demand Vs supply. I think until we get a fair and reasonable carbon tax, it will be an uphill battle to see solar and other renewable energy technologies move more aggressively into the mainstream.

Printing solar cells is a great concept that might promise lower costs in future, but until that happens, cost will always be the prohibitive factor no matter how sophisticated the technology. Levelling the energy playing field by eliminating unfair tax breaks to the Fossil Fuel Industry and applying carbon tax to energy production, might help resolve this issue and help allow the wonderful developments that have occurred over recent decades, to have their day in the sun. Pun intended.

[Slowhand]

The ability (or lack of the ability) to store electricity is the limiting factor in all the renewable energy sources. The Government should start a Manhattan Project to develop new battery storage technology that holds vast amounts of electricity for long time periods. This would help all types of renewable energy.

[spadlet]

I thought from the article that they were talking about using inkjet printer technology to ensure accrate depositing of the layers needed to build up the photovoltaic cells, rather than suggesting that photovoltaic cells can be produce by ink jet printers. Have I been mistaken?

[emz]

That would make more sense

[hoon]

Originally Posted by Slowhand

The ability (or lack of the ability) to store electricity is the limiting factor in all the renewable energy sources. The Government should start a Manhattan Project to develop new battery storage technology that holds vast amounts of electricity for long time periods. This would help all types of renewable energy.

Lots of things are being tried though. Certainly not insurmountable.