At $1 per Watt, the iTunes of Solar Energy Has Arrived
by David Sassoon - Dec 19th, 2007
in
A Silicon Valley start-up called Nanosolar shipped its first solar panels -- priced at $1 a watt. That's the price at which solar energy gets cheaper than coal. Curious that this story is not on every front page.
Still, to commemorate the achievement, Nanosolar CEO Martin Roscheisen (pictured) is reserving the first three commercially-viable panels. One is staying on display at company HQ; one has been donated to San Jose's Tech Museum of Innovation. And the other is was on sale on e-bay.
Starting price? 99 cents.
12/26 update: But then an officious nincompoop at the online auction company stopped the auction.
So far, there have been 83 bids and the price has reached $10,300. The auction is over on December 27th at 17:13:10 PST. We know the heavy hitters won't even show up until 17:12:40.
How did Nanosolar make this breakthrough?
While other companies have been focusing their efforts on increasing the efficiency of solar panels, Nanosolar took a different approach. It focused on manufacturing. Here's what it says on the company's home page:
Nanosolar has developed proprietary process technology that makes it possible to produce 100x thinner solar cells 100x faster.
Essentially, they've figured out how to print solar cells on thin sheets of aluminum with a printing press.
This could be a big nail in the dirty coal coffin. Remember a few weeks ago Google announced its RE<C initiative, to develop renewable energy that's cheaper than coal? Here's one Google investment that is already paying off. Other developments worth noting:
- IBM's top manufacturing executive has joined Nanosolar
- The company raised $100 million to build a factory, and has secured more than 600,000 feet of manufacturing space.
- It already has orders for the first 18 months of manufacturing capacity
For more details on what Nanosolar is calling The Third Wave of Solar Power, check out their web site and discussion of 7 areas of innovation they've mastered.
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It just takes time and money
It just takes time and money - oh...and desire...
What we need to do is get the big companies wanting this technology instead of trying to prevent it. After all if microsoft had made typewriters we may not have had the internet...
regards.
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you see solar panels of
you see solar panels of every roof as water heaters. And they work very well. Once installed, they just need to be undusted now and then and that is all.
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. Imagine no more costly
. Imagine no more costly electric bills because companies and residential homes are using 100% solar powered efficient systems LOL.
thanks for sharing great stuff mate :)
Stephen
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If we could produce energy
If we could produce energy cheaper the whole economy would recover faster. The country that produces the cheapest energy can run cheaper , spend less, save money, spend it on other things that decrese defisate etc. my 2c Thanks
how to use
We dont have to use the solar energy for full of our home's energy needs.If we plan to have little solar units we can use the power for lighting of the home or only for bath like etc.So everbody can make benefit from solar energy...
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The only subsidies necessary
The only subsidies necessary under this scenario would be for energy efficiency. Retrofitting homes and businesses with LED lighting, GEO Thermal heating and cooling and adding insulation would simultaneously reduce demand.
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I have been waiting on this
We are in the process of trying to get completely off the grid, and I had heard reports/rumors that this would soon be released, so I am totaly amazed by this!
Bravo!
1 dollar per watt of solar power
does it influence the slide in oil price to 35 dollars from its' peak of 148 $ per barrel ?
About Solar Power
I read it a energy magazine saying that : In the year of 2020 it will become so hard to create energy.There are two ways :
1 - Nuclear reaction's energy
2 - Solar energy and wind energy
So if we keep cutting down the trees , making the water and air dirty in the future our children will be poor about nature.
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Good times ahead
Well this is definitely good news for developing future energy consumption plans. Solar panels energy has to be one of the best ways to beat the energy resource shortages. The development of the cost effective solar panels by nanosolar is definitely the future and it wont be long before China starts shipping over cost effective Solar Panels.
Great stuff, solar power has
Great stuff, solar power has always been a luxury that you would never recoup the costs.. Until now!!
Good point Jonathan
Thank you Jonathan for this comment.The solar energy is from the sun.SO it is all natural.We must use the natural ways to create power.If we choose the make dirty nature it will punish us.At this times it shows how it will do by Global Warming....
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Solar Energy
It's so good to see news like that.Because the world warming every new year.We must save the world by using renewable energy sources.Solar Energy is one of them.Maybe the clearest way to have electric in the world...
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I guess the price is
I guess the price is reasonable.
Thank you
wow, these guys charge a lot
wow, these guys charge a lot
Cool
Its nice to know that a way has been developed to combat pollution and to cut earth getting engulfed with polluted gases. Health is important and pollution leads to many issue like pain in body parts, various chemical and harmful disease, impotence, obesity due to stress. Pollution free air will give a healthy health with sound mind and body
The best is still Hydro-Power
The cheapest way to obtain clean renewable energy with massive power outputs suitable to modern life demands is ONLY possible through Hydro-Power.
USA is lucky to have Canada as its neighbour and ally where so many Tera Watts can still be harnessed from rivers. New-York City and Boston should get all their electricity from Hydro-Quebec.
LHR
This technology will only
This technology will only reach critical mass when we can walk right into Home Depot or Lowes and buy these panels to install on the roof of our homes.
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if the example of the
if the example of the sliding down price of microprocessors and the increased memory capacity modules are taken into cosideration, that should be available at home depot in a short time.
doesnt work out
It takes too long to make your money back with this investment in energy savings. The average american is moving to a new home every 6 years now! That's a loss of atleast 10K in my book. Back to the drawing board!
moving to a new house every
moving to a new house every 6 years and abandoning , dismantling or renovating is heavy energy consuming. sure method for increased pollution and also nowadays financial disaster for the country, region where it is practiced. i.e almost equal to the primitive method of harvest, burn and move to new land practiced by primitive agricultural society.
Thanks
Thanks
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Relativamente alla domanda, di come ci si senta quando si è un blogger, le mie sensazioni su questo sono ambigue. Io sono certa che c’è qualcuno che pensa che io non sia una vera blogger perché raramente pubblico più di un testo alla settimana e non mi avvolgo giornalmente nelle discussioni con i commentatori del mio blog. Ritengo che la risposta a queste persone sarebbe una domanda:’Voi non avete una vita/ occupazione/ qualcos’altro da fare?’ E finora non esistono regole per i blogger, né un loro sindacato.
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Finally the governent will line up behind the alternative energy movement and start handing out some incetives for solar power and wind power initiatives....
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yeah he is right...
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Why wait for the government ?
Yes, solar energy is expensive at the moment.
Why wait for the government when the real issue is in the hands of companies which still do not deliver ? The cheap cost will come from mass production of quality made products (this means not in China).
At the Middle East Technical University, we are presently looking into ways to make them a lot cheaper and also to improve their efficiency with again very affordable means such as proper solar trackers (not the pan-tilt units being too heavy).
LHR
Finally the governent will
Finally the governent will line up behind the alternative energy movement and start handing out some incetives for solar power and wind power initiatives....
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Pretty Exciting
The idea that the average person might be able to afford to totally convert over to solar without spending a fortune in the not too distant future is awesome.
Everywhere around
In the Mıddle East and in Greece, you see solar panels of every roof as water heaters. And they work very well. Once installed, they just need to be undusted now and then and that is all.
Put with that a heat pump, then you are moving away from petrol dependance. That pump could be runned by a wind mill.
LHR
Solar power and wind power
Solar power and wind power are the only renewable green energy that is widely available all over the world. I am glad to see that it is coming down in price. I wish we could not think so much about price and start thinking a little more about quality.
sondakika
I think it's great that private companies are taking energy efficiency and alternative means of fuel to make a profit. I'll be looking forward to their progress in the advancement of solar technology. I doubt it's the end to our energy problems, but it's definitely a promising step. BTW, how much energy does it cost to make one of these?
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Altough diesel generators
Altough diesel generators are not a green option, but running generators on bio diesel is a more environmentally safe option when emmergency power is crucial.
Cheap Solar Power
$1 a watt may be a pretty good price for something that's supposed to be so expensive, but I found this website that is selling entire solar energy systems for less than $500.
Finally the governent will
Finally the governent will line up behind the alternative energy movement and start handing out some incetives for solar power and wind power initiatives.
Fantastic breakthrough
I was unaware of this break through until i read your story. This is truly a great break through for solar power. To be able to produce electricity as cheaply as coal is revolutionary in deed. Price per kilowatt has always been the drawback to using solar. And since not many solar panels are sold the price for them stays up. it is a vicious cycle. But, now that the technology has been manufactured from the get go to be competitive with coal is should not be long before you see more use of solr.
Thanks you
Thanks you admin see you mucx :p
Great these companies are
Great these companies are taking an initiative to promote change
It will happen....well I think so..
The break through in low cost solar PV must come...I guess it might be similar to moving from a valve radio to a modern chip driven ipod. It just takes time and money - oh...and desire...
What we need to do is get the big companies wanting this technology instead of trying to prevent it. After all if microsoft had made typewriters we may not have had the internet...
I think it's great that
I think it's great that private companies are taking energy efficiency and alternative means of fuel to make a profit. I'll be looking forward to their progress in the advancement of solar technology. I doubt it's the end to our energy problems, but it's definitely a promising step. BTW, how much energy does it cost to make one of these?
thanks
that was a nice posting
thanks
that was a nice post
Thanks
Thanks for that post ;)
thanks
thanks for the great post and what an amazing blog ;)
In Europe they had been a
In Europe they had been a lot more energy conscious for many years now, in the US we are just beginning to realize our addiction to big cars and big homes have consequences.
Thin film solar
So when will this hit the Home Depot / Lowes shelves? Oh, probably in another 10 years.
I contacted Nanosolar today
I contacted Nanosolar today Friday May 9, 2008 and requested the solar panels from them. The response was short and sweet... "we do not sell our panels for one-off projects."
I would contend it is safe to say that Nanosolar has sold-out to the electrical utility and oil companies. It is clear, at least to me, that the intent is to bury the technology since eBay cancelled the auction and Yahoo says the page is not found.
You are exactly right about
You are exactly right about selling out to other corporate interests and the government. Any somewhat smart person that can follow directions and who'd want to save money would order these products directly from their website and install it themselves. Nanosolar would make more money selling to individuals or to selling to local solar contractors. By them not selling to individuals, it takes away from us having control of our energy costs. It is a huge conspiracy, just like big freaking oil. We'll have to wait another 10 years before we see these being sold directly to individual consumers. By that time the devaluation of the dollar will be so bad we'll have to pay $100 per watt.
The problem is lack of
The problem is lack of investors in America.
Nanosolar is producing a 1 megawatt plant for Germany.
Just not enough interest in the US.
Perhaps the facts you guys overlook is the actual setup of these solar panels.
Did you ever look up their dimensions ?
I think it takes a HUGE amount of these to power the average house.
it's not the price that gets you.. it's the sqft needed.
That makes them most suited for solar farms.. not residential use.
with electric costs going up even conventional cells are fairly cost effective for many
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