Cheaper Solar Power is on the Way!

Dr Wayne Campbell and researchers in Massey University’s Nanomaterials Research Centre in New Zealand have developed a range of coloured dyes for use in dye-sensitised solar cells that they claim will generate electricity from sunlight at a 10th of the cost of current silicon-based photo-electric solar cells.



The synthetic dyes are made from simple organic compounds closely related to those found in nature. The green dye Dr Campbell is using is synthetic chlorophyll derived from the light-harvesting pigment plants use for photosynthesis.

(Other researchers have already started using algae containing chlorophyl to recover previously wasted energy and lower pollution. They use waste carbon dioxide that would have been vented into the atmosphere from power generation plants and instead pipe it into water in tubes and put the algae in the tubes in the sunlight for it to grow. After it fills the tubes they harvest it and use it for a number of things, including plant fertilizer and burning instead of fossil fuels, for lower emissions.)

Dr Campbell says that unlike the silicon-based solar cells currently on the market, the 10x10cm green demonstration cells generate enough electricity to run a small fan in low-light conditions – making them ideal for cloudy climates. The dyes can also be incorporated into tinted windows that trap to generate electricity. 

He also said that the green solar cells are more environmentally friendly than silicon-based cells as they are made from titanium dioxide – a plentiful, renewable and non-toxic white mineral obtained from New Zealand’s black sand. Titanium dioxide is already used in consumer products such as toothpaste, white paints and cosmetics.

Plus,  “The refining of pure silicon, although a very abundant mineral, is energy-hungry and very expensive. And whereas silicon cells need direct sunlight to operate efficiently, these cells will work efficiently in low diffuse light conditions.” And, “The expected cost is one 10th of the price of a silicon-based solar panel, making them more attractive and accessible to home-owners.”

The center's director, Professor Ashton Partridge, said they now have the most efficient porphyrin dye in the world and aim to optimize and improve the cell construction and performance before developing the cells commercially.

He also said “The energy that reaches earth from sunlight in one hour is more than that used by all human activities in one year”.

To me, this is further proof that we need to continue to push for more research and development of renewable energy sources with the goal and belief that one day we won't have to do anything that hurts the environment to meet our power requirements.

These solar cells are the product of more than 10 years research funded by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology.



Note:

This story has been adapted from a news release issued by Massey University.


I think it is amazing to watch the breakthroughs in renewable energy. Some of the most fascinating ones seem to come from people being willing to think way out the side the conventional box and then work their way back towards the box of convention to start the commercial applications of their breakthroughs.

Thank you,

Dave Briggs