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| New technology will reduce cost of solar energy Stellaris Corporation, an early-stage sustainable energy company, has developed a new type of solar module that will cost much less to manufacture but will generate roughly the same amount of electricity as existing, comparable-sized modules. The technology, called Concentrating Photovoltaic Glazing (CPG), consists of small (6mm high) lenses that concentrate light onto narrow strips of thin film photovoltaic (PV) material, which is supplied from leading manufacturers. This concentration reduces the amount of PV material required in manufacturing the module by 67%. Significant manufacturing cost savings are realized because the PV material, which is a major cost component in the production of solar modules, is replaced by relatively inexpensive glass or plastic. Prototype testing has demonstrated that the lenses are performing close to their theoretical maximum. write your comments about the article :: © 2005 Construction News :: home page |