Solar energy to be made affordable to the public

2008-07-15 04:47:00 (GMT) (WiredPRNews.com - Green)

Washington, D.C. (WiredPRNews.com) — By devising a practical and efficient solar device with the use of organic dyes covered by glass, scientists believe the device will help in making solar energy more affordable.

Solar energy has always been seen as an excellent alternative source of energy but it was also one of the costliest processes. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology said that a new kind of solar concentrator has been developed which makes extracting solar energy from the sun better and easier.

Marc Baldo, the professor of electrical engineering from MIT, said that the process involves a glass piece with paint layered on its top. The idea of the device is that sunlight enters the glass and hits the paint which then bounces the light out to the glass edges. The edges are embedded with solar cells which transform light into electricity.

Current solar concentrators are made using lenses or mirror to concentrate light. Sheets used in this device are light and flat and thus may be used in solar panels. These can be placed over roofs or as windows to generate power. Unlike other concentrators, in this new system, the device does not need to be moved to track sun progression.

Researchers believe that this system may be available in the market within three years and can be added to existing solar panel systems to increase efficiency. Aravinda Kini, a sponsor from the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy, said that the accomplishment is a demonstration of the critical significance of innovative research in bringing revolutionary advancements to the utilization of solar energy while remaining cost-effective.

A company named Covalent Solar in Boston has been formed by MIT researchers to develop and market technology.

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