Solar technology 'poised' for greater role
House with solar panels
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Monday, 11, Sep 2006 03:55
Solar technology is set to play a greater role in meeting future energy needs, the American Chemical Society (ACS) has argued.
Lower costs and improved efficiency are, the ACS believes, freeing solar technology from its former costly and impractical associations.
Potential uses of solar power are being discussed at the symposium Science and Technology of Next Generation Photovoltaics, which is being held at the ACS's 232nd national meeting until September 12th.
Applications which could harness solar power include mobile phones, computers, automobiles, office buildings and homes.
A study conducted by Nobel Prize winner Dr Alan Heeger and colleagues at the University of California into progress made by 'plastic' solar cells was presented to the conference.
Plastic solar cells were developed in the study which have efficiencies between five and six per cent. The authors argued that they could be created to have up to 15 per cent in the future and will be a vital part of providing a low cost, efficient and long-lasting source of solar energy.
Other developments to be presented to the conference include ultra-thin, dye-sensitised solar cells which could be used as coatings on glass windows to supply electric power to homes and businesses, and carbon nanotubes which could boost the efficiency of solar cells.
In the UK solar energy is set to play a role in helping the government meet its target of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 60 per cent by 2050.
Solar energy and other forms of renewable energy at present account for just three per cent of electricity generation in the UK.