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Part of the problem with solar power is that only 1/3 of the cost is solar cells, the other 2/3 is installation and other electronic and electric parts, so even if the cost of solar cells goes to zero you’re still paying 2/3 of the cost.

From the article: The point is that while these cells are merely as efficient as very good photovoltaic panels, they use only about a hundredth of the material. Also the new design is highly flexible: built on a bed of silicon, Atwater’s micrwire arrays can simply be peeled off and stuck pretty much wherever you want. “They could even be integrated into buildings, as components that match the shape of roof tiles,” says Atwater.

Atwater’s micrwire arrays can simply be peeled off and stuck pretty much wherever you want.

There is another interesting benefit of this technology for roof applications. It would seem that with the reflective internal coatings, they have a flexible design to overcome the slope restrictions for optimum light absorption. There may also be design options for less than ideal southeast and southwest orientations.

There are still the costs of inverter conversion, storage, regulation, and wiring. Water-Air fuel cells combinations with electrolysis are also inefficient and costly. For over 35 years I have followed each and every promise. I never held my breath or swallowed the kool aid of Gaia. I would love to be more standalone and resilient, but there still is no there there. This technology is promising and I expect more developments to follow.