Prism Makes $1 a Watt Unique Solar Hybrid
Prism Solar Technologies in Highland, NY has innovated a breakthrough holographic thin-film (Holographic Planar Concentrator™) that makes possible a very parsimonious use of crystalline PV cells to counteract that problem for Northern regions.This brings the cost down to $1 a watt.
Each of their solar modules is actually made up of both crystalline PV and their unique holographic thin-film. The thin-film strips diffract both direct and reflected energy to the PV cell strips integrated between strips of thin-film. Solar modules made in this way are cheaper because they use 50-72% less silicon to make the same energy.(more from here)
Here are the advantages of Holographic Planar Concentrator™ (HPC) technology:
Each of their solar modules is actually made up of both crystalline PV and their unique holographic thin-film. The thin-film strips diffract both direct and reflected energy to the PV cell strips integrated between strips of thin-film. Solar modules made in this way are cheaper because they use 50-72% less silicon to make the same energy.(more from here)
Here are the advantages of Holographic Planar Concentrator™ (HPC) technology:
- Less silicon reduces cost per watt
- Passive tracking from holographic effect produces more energy from diffuse and reflected light.
- Cooler operation than conventional PV module, most unusable light passes through module without being turned into heat.
- Bifacial PV cells can increase module performance when mounted over a reflective surface.
- Lower embodied energy, the energy required to manufacture the HPC film is much less than that required to mine and process silicon.
Labels: costs, energy, solar, technology
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