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New, Inexpensive MIT Solar Panels Could Hit Markets by 2011

planetsave.com — MIT engineers say they ’ve created a new approach to harnessing the sun’s energy that also provides windows with a clear view and illuminate rooms at the same time without the need for tracking devices.

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  • MattgUP, on 07/11/2008, -4/+40This is a great idea that would really improve solar implementation. I really hope they do make it to market as soon as they estimate (but it always ends up taking longer). Keep up the good work MIT. I can't believe they named such a great school after Mit Romney!?!?
    • modelcadet, on 07/11/2008, -11/+1The girls they have to hook up with go to Clinton's alma mater. So don't blame em for being a little loony.
      • KnifeOfLife, on 07/11/2008, -1/+0Wellesley women are about as sane and attractive as Hillary is... which is why we hook up with BU girls instead.
    • jcm267, on 07/11/2008, -21/+4What school did they name after Romney? And if they did... so what? The man is a very successful businessman and politician with strong ties to the area.
      • Devrdander, on 07/11/2008, -1/+26I think the Romney thing was a joke :-P
      • ssn697, on 07/11/2008, -2/+7You need a little more coffee this morning, JCM ;-)

        MIT Romney....
      • jcm267, on 07/11/2008, -2/+6Meh... There are two t's in MITT. I thought that he was saying that MIT named one of its schools after Romney, which wouldn't be surprising. I could see something like the "Mitt Romney School of (insert specialization) Business" or something popping up somewhere.
    • baithe, on 07/11/2008, -10/+4Holy *****, Mit Romney is 150 years old? Crazy Mormons...
    • forcedfx, on 07/11/2008, -1/+11Hook... line... sinker
    • secrity, on 07/11/2008, -1/+2I wouldn't bet on them being on the market five years from now.
  • phreak79, on 07/11/2008, -0/+15It can't come soon enough. I think solar has real potential but until one of these great new innovations hits the market there will always be cynicism.
    • BigW, on 07/11/2008, -1/+5No, until one of these new innovations hits the market, solar isn't feasible. But the innovations are coming, this is just one of the first. What's neat about this one is that it appears to give a real efficiency gain using a very simple method.
      • lettruthout, on 07/11/2008, -2/+1Please stay out of the way of those that already know it's feasible and have installed it. Your negative opinion is not helping the market. It creates a false impression that keeps others from looking into it at all.

        Solar does NOW make sense if you're going to be staying in your home for a number of years. This is calculated with constant energy rates (even though we know rates are going up) and not considering the improvement in your home's resale value.

        We like it so much we want to add more. The more people who buy now mean cheaper systems later.
      • WATYF, on 07/11/2008, -0/+2Sorry man... but it's not feasible. I just checked out having solar installed for my home. It's obscene. An up-front cost of around 40 thousand and more than TWICE as much as grid power, even when spread out over the course of 25 years.

        It's just not a good idea yet. I can't wait until it is.... but a spade is a spade.
    • AchaIemoipas, on 07/11/2008, -1/+11My cabin is solar powered. I don't know what people mean when they talk about how it can't be implemented or it's not cost effective. I had pannels installed 6 years ago, it added 25% value to my cabin and I don't have electricty bills. I put the cost on the mortgage and it comes to 22$ less than my average electricity bill per month.

      I use the cabin in summer and winter (it's close to a ski resort).

      I really don't get what the problem is. Doesn't work for appartments, but for houses, no problem.
      • secrity, on 07/11/2008, -5/+3How is the solar powered electric range and dryer working out?
      • AchaIemoipas, on 07/11/2008, -0/+6As they should?

        My rig produces 22,000 watthours per day and I have a standby generator.
      • IllBeBack, on 07/11/2008, -0/+2What do you do for power at night? I'm curious, not trying to be sarcastic. I am interested in getting solar panels for my house.
      • AchaIemoipas, on 07/11/2008, -0/+1The electricity is stored in batteries. The pannels produce electricity that is stored in a battery and then transmitted to the house's electricity feed (where you would normally connect to the power grid).

        It's the same concept as those portable batteries you can charge and use on camping, except they can store much more electricity. The more efficient the battery, the longer the electricity can be stored.

        My current setup, when fully charged, can power my cabin for 72 hours at regular usage level. Which is really excessive, but I didn't want to take chances (I had no experience with solar power before this).

        I'd need some sort of very dark storm that lasts about 6 days to actually need it. The lowest efficiency level of my setup (say during a storm with very dark clouds) is about 50% of maximum efficiency (clear skies).

        So far I've never ran out. And the sun goes down around 4pm where I live in winter.
    • BufordT, on 07/11/2008, -1/+2There is cynicism because none of these great new innovations ever hit the market. There has been an impending solar revolution for 30 years now, when are we going to see some actual results?
    • zebov, on 07/11/2008, -0/+2It's all about money. If solar panels were truly cost effective then they would be purchased and used and the market for them would skyrocket. It's all about money.

      And to AchaIemoipas, it sounds like you've got a pretty good setup going. However, I'm guessing you've got a unique situation. Again, if it were cost-effective, then everyone would do it... not because it was "green" or "earth-friendly" but because (say it with me now): It's all about money.
      • chrysrobyn, on 07/12/2008, -0/+1Indeed, it's all about money, but it's also about teaching people how to spend it wisely. Routinely, when maintenance is required on a home, people perform the work as cheaply as possible. Last year, we faced a significant bill when one of our air conditioners compressors died. We were coached through how much it would cost in materials and labor. I asked about the cost of a new unit, and was told about the least efficient model allowed by code (13 SEER). I kept asking about more and more efficient models. As it turned out, if you have a 5-7 year view on them, 15-16 SEER saves you money -- but you have to have it to save it. Most people don't, and those who do are often not smart enough to do so.
  • gavinhudson, on 07/11/2008, -2/+12This would be great - a sun roof that IS a solar panel. Next step, just get yourself that new Ox EV and drive on free power from the sun.
    • DirtyBinLV, on 07/11/2008, -0/+3Even if you had 100% efficient panels, (and we're nowhere close) the energy provided by car sized solar panels would not be able to move the vehicle at any acceptable speed. Roof panels could run accessories and get some free charge while you're at work, but the laws of physics say they will still need to plug in.
      • gavinhudson, on 07/13/2008, -0/+1I'm not sure what laws of physics you mean. My parents have solar panels that run everything in their house w/o plugging in. Also, although solar panels on cars are cool, I wasn't talking about that. I meant putting solar on your roof and plugging your car into your house.
  • SteelChicken, on 07/11/2008, -7/+81if currentdate >= lastdate(of next big solar panel save the universe article) + 1 month then
    { generate random article on solar panels saving the universe about 3-5 years out }
    repeat until the end of time
    • Chebsi, on 07/11/2008, -0/+2if comment == pseudocode then {
      diggUsers.digg(comment)
      }
    • Browncoat, on 07/11/2008, -0/+2For those who only know bbcode, let me translate

      [b]NOT GONNA HAPPEN[/b]
  • B08ama, on 07/11/2008, -9/+1"The new technology will be developed and commercialized by a new company, Covalent Solar, formed by Mapel, Currie and Goffri."

    Hey! They stole my band name.
    • phantom_mullet, on 07/11/2008, -0/+1Go bitch about it on MySpace.
  • Clorfex, on 07/11/2008, -11/+0omg lol
  • NotFactorial, on 07/11/2008, -0/+9A better article about the technology at

    http://technology.newscientist.com/article/dn14293 ...
    • bigfootindy, on 07/11/2008, -0/+10Yikes, only a 3 month lifespan? There's always a catch...
      • fnordy, on 07/11/2008, -0/+1True, but that's an engineering problem, not a "impossible" problem. That is why the date given is 2011, as that is how long they expect that it will take solve the problem.
  • YZBot, on 07/11/2008, -0/+17When are all these breakthroughs going to come to market? There seems to be one just about every month. I've got cash, throw me a bone already.
  • unfilterthought, on 07/11/2008, -0/+7Now this is neat. They should implement this on normal windows too.
  • zacharytelschow, on 07/11/2008, -1/+56I'm sick of hearing about "soon." Write me when something like this actually goes to market and I can buy it. When will then be now?
    • earnjam, on 07/11/2008, -1/+46Soon.
      • rezonq3, on 07/11/2008, -0/+7How soon?
      • secrity, on 07/11/2008, -0/+6In regards to practical photovoltaics and clean alternative energy, I've been hearing 'soon' for over thirty years so far.
      • DrummerAndrew, on 07/11/2008, -0/+4You just missed it.
      • skatiN64, on 07/12/2008, -0/+2please tell me what that is from!
      • earnjam, on 07/14/2008, -0/+1Spaceballs!
    • bjzq8, on 07/11/2008, -3/+11Never, because all of these "innovations" are grant-trolling academia BS, and not economically feasible.
      • protodon, on 07/11/2008, -2/+1So true, i hate when people say how MIT made some amazing thing. Yeah they made one buggy prototype then they locked it away in the vault, never to be seen again!
    • TypeEE, on 07/11/2008, -8/+3Ok, iPhone 3G TODAY!!!
    • toejamz, on 07/11/2008, -0/+5Then is now, now.

      Nano Solar is shipping solar cells that are printed on aluminum foil, just like a newspaper, at a rate of 100 FEET PER MINUTE. You can see it here: http://www.nanosolar.com/blog3/ The actual cost of production drops by 2 orders of magnitude - 1/100th the cost!

      They've been producing it as fast as they can, but their production for YEARS is already sold because it's so much cheaper than their competition.
    • DiscoLando, on 07/11/2008, -0/+1When?
  • forcedfx, on 07/11/2008, -1/+6Hopefully, this doesn't turn out to be vaporware like so many other breakthroughs.
  • poidh, on 07/11/2008, -2/+2Great news. Let's have more like this please.
  • jefuchs, on 07/11/2008, -0/+10I say this all the time. I won't get excited about these new super solar panels until the story comes with a link that says "click here to purchase."

    They've been getting people whipped up over these "breakthroughs" for too many years, and nothing ever goes retail!
  • yoda17, on 07/11/2008, -2/+1When will we know that the planet has been saved?
    • lettruthout, on 07/11/2008, -0/+2When pollution levels start to drop, population levels come down, we have sustainable sources of food, water, energy and all species come off of the endangered list.

      We have a long way to go.
  • jxbrown, on 07/11/2008, -4/+1They are stylish, and help the environment!
  • imakeholesinu, on 07/11/2008, -1/+4Until they get these things up to between 25-35% efficiency, this really won't make a difference.
  • changedmind, on 07/11/2008, -2/+1This is why America is the greatest and the price of crude oil is gunna come crashing down.
    • zmigliozzi, on 07/11/2008, -2/+1No alternate sources (coming into speculation) for energy drive prices up.
    • Texmurphy01, on 07/11/2008, -2/+3Oh my lord... what a bell end you are
  • mrsack, on 07/11/2008, -0/+1Hopefully by the time I finish school and actually get a house I'll be able to buy this stuff.
  • andy3109, on 07/11/2008, -1/+9Every week a new article about "affordable solar panels coming in 20XX." In 2007 they were coming in 2009. In 2008 they were coming in 2011 etc.
    • JHW539, on 07/11/2008, -0/+6Do you realize the improvement in cost per watt that solar PVs have gone through in the past decade? Everyone is lusting after the breakthrough next big thing and ignoring the slow but steady advancement. If you took a top-of-the-line commercialized Sun Power panel from today back 15 years, it would be touted as an amazing leap forward in efficiency versus cost.
      • gavinhudson, on 07/11/2008, -0/+2Excellent observation. I was just talking recently with solar researchers at a university here in South Korea who said the same thing.
      • TopherT, on 07/11/2008, -0/+1We shall truly see the technological singularity in our lifetimes. The amount of progress in the last 5 years technologically is absolutely staggering when compared to 5 years in any other period. I'm sure the next 5 years will be the same. (I must be a commie, I think in 5 year spans)
  • frostbyt, on 07/11/2008, -1/+23Dugg for not gonna happen.
  • tcpip4lyfe, on 07/11/2008, -2/+27BREAKING:random article on solor panels that never will get produced.
    • phantom_mullet, on 07/11/2008, -0/+1WAIT WAIT WAIT the title has MIT in it so it must be for real!
  • ldone, on 07/11/2008, -0/+8Dyes only last 3 months! A work in progress for R&D
    I look at this as more of an update than a breakthrough
  • zmigliozzi, on 07/11/2008, -1/+5Less expensive so instead of billionare's it's cheap enough for millionare's. Anyways why not just wait until the multi-spectrum panels that are literally 6x's more powerful.
    • TopherT, on 07/11/2008, -0/+1This technology will help those panels too.
  • brainscab, on 07/11/2008, -0/+3one more step in the right direction
    • secrity, on 07/11/2008, -2/+2One more step, anyway. It might be in the right direction, and it might be a toward a dead end. 30 years of waiting has caused me to develop a healthy cynicism toward the prospect of practical solar energy.
      • lettruthout, on 07/11/2008, -0/+1If you had bought them ten years ago (or so) when then first came out, they'd have paid for themselves already.

        Stop complaining and buy now already!
    • brainscab, on 07/11/2008, -0/+2yeah, its rough, but once mass production sets in, the price is bound to drop.
    • bman1984, on 07/11/2008, -0/+3When did they begin working on this crazy idea that someday, processors would be small enough and cheap enough that the everyday person would be able to afford one for their own home? Technology does not advance from research to commercial overnight.
  • trollick, on 07/11/2008, -2/+3My next computer running Duke Nukem Forever will be powered by these.
    • regeya, on 07/11/2008, -2/+1And a month afterward, Linux will be the dominant desktop platform.
  • dpatel, on 07/11/2008, -1/+1hahaha, we hear about some new technology every week. this industry is bogged down with random PR that is so far from market, this project may just be an idea on paper at this point. Show us some labs test results and prototypes!
  • bshock, on 07/11/2008, -2/+2Woohoo! 2011! Only 10 years too late!
  • CarStan, on 07/11/2008, -1/+5i dont know whats with all the scepticism but here in germany solar cells are already really profitable. Near my hometown theres a company that started in 1999, with their first cells being produced in 2001. They employ 1.500 people now and make a revenue of $1bil- äh, €1billon (must be about $1.5 right now).

    You can see several middle-class houses with solar-panel roofs. After about 3-5 years they have paid off the investment and if the article is true, they can be cheaply upgraded to 50% more efficency.
    • lettruthout, on 07/11/2008, -0/+2We have them on middle-class homes here in California also. Sure solar systems will be cheaper in the future but they make sense now.

      If no one bought the first personal computers we won't have them at all today. Instead they're cheaper and more powerful than they were a few years ago.

      The same is already happening for solar electric.

      Solar thermal is years ahead of it.
    • nsreidy, on 07/11/2008, -0/+2They have only paid off the investment because the German government offered huge subsidies for PV panels. This is stupid, because Germany does not get as much sun as many other countries (e.g. Spain), and it has resulted in the price of silicon being driven up world-wide.

      See: "law of unintended consequences" and "what happens when the government tries to pick winning technologies"...
      • n00854180t, on 07/11/2008, -0/+1Yeah, I think as long as the panels are made with silicon, they aren't really great. The panels made from carbon nanotubes sound like a good idea.

        Really though, I'd rather have a decent nuclear fusion plant, since they've been taking their sweet time with that, and it would easily outdo solar.
  • booshack, on 07/11/2008, -3/+2meh
  • bubba9999, on 07/11/2008, -1/+3When the "time to hit market" value is more than three years, I know the product will never see the light of day because something better will be discovered before it goes into production.
  • fuknlightn, on 07/11/2008, -0/+3By 2011 this planet could be a ball of bubbling molten stank. Should push for 2009 instead.
  • cybrguy, on 07/11/2008, -0/+1Currently most of our nano-dot panels being produced in the USA are getting shipped to Europe where electricity is even more expensive than here. So any new generation solar panels are probably going to follow suite. I hope we get any new-generation more cost efficient panels here in the near future.
  • Barackalypse, on 07/11/2008, -1/+3Why do all these alternative energy stores go something like:
    1) Major new breakthrough drastically decreases price or increases output
    2) Available at some point 2-3 years away
    3) Technology never seen or heard from again
    • toejamz, on 07/11/2008, -0/+2It isn't. Google for Nano Solar. They print solar cells like newspaper on aluminum foil. Their machine prints at a rate of 100 feet per minute. Their production capacity for the next several YEARS is already sold - they're building more capacity as fast as they possibly can. (apparently, access to the money to do it isn't a problem, it just takes time to actually do it!)
  • beauley, on 07/11/2008, -0/+1With Global Warming on many people's minds, do we have any ideas of the best way to lessen the impact on our future, or maybe a possible relief of its possible ravages or even a possible key to its eventual reversal. Many scientific experts have proposed
    http://www.quazen.com/Science/Technology/Solar-Pow ...
    Solar Power, Source of Endless Energy
  • Spoomeister, on 07/11/2008, -0/+1"New inexpensive solar panels coming..."

    *scribble scribble*

    "...solar panels will cost same as before, but are now cheaper for manufacturer, leading to actual profit margin on solar panels..."

    FTFY
  • Ron999, on 07/12/2008, -0/+1Am I the only one who noticed subbies description could apply to ordinary window glass?

    (except for the "new" part)
  • pacpub, on 07/13/2008, -0/+0Oil prices will continue to drive this kind of innovation. Has Ed Begley Jr. stumbled this one yet?
  •  

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