Posted on 08/28/2008 9:01:18 AM PDT by Clint Williams
Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have set a world record in solar cell efficiency...
(Excerpt) Read more at nrel.gov ...
If this is all about energy
independence and we import 99% of the gallium we need to make these huge inefficient panels, How are we gaining energy independence?
The higher cost is justifiable for space-based use since it is so expensive to lift a kg into orbit.
For ground-based use, where the area and weight involved are less of an issue, cheaper cells like thin-film make more sense.
For applications in between — top of a motorhome or semi-truck or even family car — it will be interesting to see how the higher cost vs. smaller weight+area issues compare.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.