Solar energy will only become truly cost competitive by 2025, according to UK academic Dr Darren Bagnall.
Bagnall, from the University of Southampton’s school of electronics and computer science, said photovoltaics is seeing ‘staggering’ growth yet it can only become mainstream when its dollar to Watt ratio is comparable to other energy sources.
“Photovoltaic production is currently based on first generation solar cells that rely upon expensive bulk multi-crystalline or single crystal semiconductors. Although, these structures are reliable, half the cost of current devices is as a result of the use of silicon wafers,” said Bagnall, who laid out his argument at an Office of Science and Innovation event today (Wednesday, July 5, 2006).
Less expensive second generation solar cells could use cheap silicon thin-films deposited onto glass, said Bagnall and third generation devices could benefit from developments in nanotechnologies, photonics, optical metamaterials, plasmonics and semiconductor polymer.