With the costs of solar
power on the decline – prices have seen a staggering drop from around
$40 per watt in 1977 to $0.74 per watt in 2013 – this remarkable
technology has finally made its way into the mainstream. While this is
great news for people in developed countries who want to make the
transition over to cleaner sources of energy, it is even better news for
the 1.3 billion people who are currently living without any electricity
at all.
Printed solar cells are paper-thin,
lightweight and extremely inexpensive to produce. The cells are also
flexible, making their transportation virtually effortless, even to
remote rural areas. “I’ve witnessed first-hand how the technology has
enabled urban poor communities in India to access off-grid electricity,”
says Scott Watkins of the Korean firm Kyung-In Synthetic. “Its
success is due to its cost effectiveness and simplicity. A 10×10 solar
cell film is enough to generate enough as much as 10-50 watts per square
meter.”
While the technology is advancing
quickly, there still remains plenty of room for improvement. The printer
required to generate these cells is quite expensive and requires a
large capital investment. The printed cells are susceptible to the
elements and can cause lead contamination if they are broken. There are,
however, already some companies (like the aforementioned Kyung-In Synthetic) working to alleviate these issues.
Even though there are still some issues
to be ironed out, printed solar cells are a huge step towards
implementing a clean, renewable energy source worldwide! Can you imagine
what a simple crowdfunding campaign could do? I think a lot of people
want to help, but they either don’t know how, they don’t trust a lot of
the bigger charities, or they don’t have a lot to give. After these
printed solar cells are perfected, they will have the potential
to change the lives of so many individuals around the world. Technology
certainly is amazing! These are some exciting times we are living in.
Much Love
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