Have you ever experienced a prolonged power outage? Well if you have, you know from experience it’s not fun. It is even worse if you rely on a well for your water supply, as we did when I was a child. There’s nothing quite like going without water and power for days on end. Because of those “fond” memories I have from my childhood, I am determined to have at least a back-up solar power system someday, and if possible, a completely solar powered home. Many homeowners have already taken the initiative and converted their energy supply to solar, but many others, like me, just can’t justify the expense right now. The good news is, we may be approaching a compromise in as little as three years.

MIT Engineers Working on New Technology

MIT Engineers are working on a new technology that can potentially make solar power much more affordable. The concept involves creating a solar concentrator that converts 10x more power than usual with one solar cell. The concentrator is built by painting a regular pane of glass or plastic with dyes designed to absorb light and then re-emit the light at a new wavelength that is transported to solar cells placed at the edge of the window.

Low Cost Designed for Widespread Use

So how is this method going to be less expensive than traditional solar systems? Basically, the equipment will increase the amount of power produced by a solar cell by 40x, and will require less equipment to operate. This produces a less-expensive system, and with further development, may finally produce a more affordable solar system for widespread usage. Solar energy may already be more affordable than you realize; request free estimates from prescreened solar contractors in your area today.

Photo Credit:Donna Coveny: MIT

Posted on July 28th in Solar News by Anna.