Cost and Efficiency
With Stellaris’s technology, solar-power systems can produce the same amount of electricity as other systems, using only one-third of the photovoltaic material, according to Mr. Ward. He predicts the technology will result in an overall cost savings of about 40 percent.
Instead of crystalline solar photovoltaic cells, the concentrators use thin-film solar cells. Thin-film cells contain little or no costly polysilicon, which is especially advantageous during a polysilicon shortage (see Solar’s Going Thin).
Stellaris’s technology is compatible with any thin-film technology, according to Mr. Ward.
Mr. Parker of the Cleantech Venture Network said the technology is interesting, but added that there is a lot of competition in the space. One challenge will be getting warranties for the new technology, as thin-film cells have historically degraded more quickly than crystalline cells, he said.
“It’s a matter of taking a lab test and proving it out in the real world,” he said. “Degradation has been a problem with thin film. It’s got to be plug and play. A concentrator adds a whole new level of complexity, depending on how it’s embedded in the product.”
He believes it may take some time for Stellaris to capitalize on its recent triumph.
“It’s one thing to win a business plan competition, but there’s a lot of pilot work that’s got to be done before this is a successful company,” said Mr. Parker. “There’s a long way to go
No comments:
Post a Comment