In an announcement that is exciting, if accurate, researchers from Caltech claim they have developed cells that can capture 85 percent of total collectible sunlight using only a fraction of the silicon required for conventional cells. The cells are 98% transparent plastic, with just 2% of their volume comprised of silicon.
For now, they have only built tiny ones. If the approach can be effectively scaled up, it could help cut the capital cost for solar photovoltaic facilities.
Author: Milan
In the spring of 2005, I graduated from the University of British Columbia with a degree in International Relations and a general focus in the area of environmental politics. Between 2005 and 2007 I completed an M.Phil in IR at Wadham College, Oxford. I worked for five years for the Canadian federal government, including completing the Accelerated Economist Training Program, and then completed a PhD in Political Science at the University of Toronto in 2023.
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