What’s going on in the solar world this week? Too much to list in a single post, but here are some interesting finds on solar leaves and solar paint for steel buildings. Also, demand for PV modules is rising, but how does this affect price?

Solar Leaves

According to Sustainably Minded Interactive Technology (SMIT), solar panels tacked to flexible little pieces of plastic are meant to resemble ivy leaves fluttering in the wind. From the photograph, these “solar leaves” look more like a display of aluminum cans, but fortunately their only virtue does not lie in looks. They produce electricity at less cost than panels, and they weigh far less, too. Link: Artificial Solar Leaves: Tack ‘em to Your House

Solar Steel Paint

Solar paint, in development with Swansea University, has a low 5 percent efficiency, but when you consider that it will cover about 100 million square feet annually, keeping structures from degrading and producing electricity at the same time, the number is pretty impressive. Currently, the solar steel paint is bound for the lab, to be released at a future date. Link: Solar-Powered Paint Could Produce 4,500 GW-Hrs a Year!

PV Prices Rising?

Demand is so strong that it’s difficult for the manufacturers to keep up. In addition, it doesn’t help that most supplies need to be shipped in from places like Germany and Spain. As a result, prices have gone from $6.93 per watt in 2005 to $7.25 in 2006 and $7.62 in 2007. However, strong industry investment helps boost production capacity, and the hope is that incentives will remain to support homebuyers until lower costs set in.

Link:

• Demand Keeps Photovoltaic Prices Rising
• Take advantage of existing solar incentives to get in on solar technology. Contact a certified solar contractor

today.

Posted on March 20th in Solar News by Renee.