| There has been a lot of buzz lately about solar film, | | | | subject to fewer defect issues. |
| also called flexible or foldable, solar panels. This is an | | | | * Less Voltage Drop. Electricity in most applications |
| emerging technology and could completely | | | | flows better when its cool. When thin film solar cells |
| revolutionize renewable energy. Thin film solar most | | | | heat up they tend to loose less voltage than traditional |
| often uses CIGS (copper indium gallium (di)selenide) | | | | panels. |
| technology or amorphous silicon, which are much | | | | * Performance in Low-light. Many thin solar panels |
| cheaper and easier to manufacture than the standard | | | | have better energy production in low-light and shading |
| solar crystalline panels we're used to seeing. Let's | | | | situations. |
| break down the different advantages and | | | | * Durability. Since the technology is fairly new, there |
| disadvantages of this new and exciting technology. | | | | are some questions about how long these cells will last. |
| Advantages: | | | | But many early-adopters have reported their cells |
| * Cost. Flexible solar is leading the way to cheap | | | | lasting 15 years and more. These cells do not require |
| energy from the sun. Costs for this technology are | | | | the glass and aluminum casings of traditional cells |
| dropping quickly and with the investment in research | | | | because the materials within them are flexible and |
| and development, these costs will continue to fall. | | | | malleable, not brittle like crystalline silicon. This means |
| * Application. The biggest advantages currently with | | | | they will likely take more abuse and last longer. |
| thin film solar is its numerous application options. Unlike | | | | Disadvantages: |
| traditional panels, flexible panels can be applied to a | | | | * Efficiency Questions. Efficiency of these cells has |
| wide variety of surfaces. In addition to the traditional | | | | lagged anywhere from 50%-70% behind that of |
| roof mounted design, these cells are being molded to | | | | traditional crystalline cells. This is changing quickly |
| cars, backpacks, clothing, and even windows. Some | | | | however. In 2005, the National Renewable Energy Lab |
| companies are even integrating the cells into things like | | | | achieved a world record 19.9% efficiency for a CIGS |
| roof tiles and siding, so your house will have solar in it, | | | | cell. This means that 19.9% of the total energy that fell |
| not just on it. | | | | on the cell was converted to electricity. This is |
| * Technology Advancements. Many large companies | | | | approaching the world record for a common solar |
| such as Shell, Honda, and Nanosolar are throwing all | | | | panel of 24.7%. |
| their research muscle behind thin film solar. This means | | | | * Space Needed. With the efficiencies currently |
| that the technology will improve greatly over time, and | | | | available, you would need approximately 50% more |
| some of the advancements are already coming to | | | | room with thin film solar to produce the same |
| market. | | | | electricity as a traditional solar setup. |
| * Fewer Defects. Because the manufacturing process | | | | * Heat Retention. Because thin film solar is usually |
| is simpler, there are often fewer defects. The highly | | | | applied directly to a surface, they can retain more hear. |
| technical method of building traditional solar panels, | | | | Traditional panels are generally installed with a |
| sometimes compared to computer chip manufacturing, | | | | standoff, meaning there is space between the panel |
| involves a lot of detailed soldering. This has been | | | | and the supporting surface, allowing for air to cool the |
| historically a place where the traditional panels | | | | panels. Thin film solar may retain more heat, creating a |
| experienced a lot of warranty issues. Not so with solar | | | | balance act between this and its benefit of better |
| film. The process is closer to printing and therefore is | | | | performance at higher temperatures. |