High efficiency photovoltaic solar panels?

Question

I saw an article and a patent for a new and revolutionary solar panel last year, with promises that they will be on the market soon. Has anyone heard anything more about these solar panels?

Article:
http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=116&art_id=vn20060211110132138C184427

Patent:
http://v3.espacenet.com/textdoc?DB=EPODOC&IDX=WO2005017979&F=0&QPN=WO2005017979

... Meanwhile, I found some more information about them: Being produced by Johanna Solar Technology*, a subsidiary of IFE**.

* http://www.johanna-solar.com/en/index.shtml

** http://www.ife-net.de/en/johanna.php

Answer 1

Not too long ago the US Gov gave Evergreen a large grant (I don't think they had to pay it back) to build a cheaper solar module. Well they did it and really cut their cost big time. But if you notice the Evergreen solar modules sell for about the same as any other. A little less then some and a little more then others.

So it all comes down to the same thing, the tax payers got it up the rearend again.

They got free tax money to find a better way to do it then they charge the same price as everyone else. There is nothing in the law that says just because they can make it for less money that they have to pass on the savings. Normally they don't. Why should they?

Oh, Just so you know, standard efficiency for solar modules is between 12% and 18%.

If anyone puts out a better solar cell at a lower price I will be very very very impressed. You better plan on paying more because they will tell you how much better their product is because of how they do things so it will be worth more. The price will not go down as long as people will pay for them the price just like with gas will just go up.

Answer 2

You can already buy cells with almost 40% efficiency, if you have the money to spend.

Efficiency in solar technology is generally not the goal, even if it is hyped by the sales types. ROI (Return on Investment) and EROEI (Energy Return on Energy Investment) are. You can optimize both without being far out on the physical efficiency parameter.

As far as "yet another solar company" is concerned, the latecomers are always the losers in the technology game. If you want to evaluate the future performance of a company, you better not rely on patents but look at what they can deliver within the next six months to a year in form of real revenue. If that is nothing, don't even bother to invest(igate).

Answer 3

Thanks for the info I too am very interested. and whilst on the subject, the invention that was shown on TV and in the press two weeks ago regarding central heating giving out 50/100% more energy than the input. I will make a statement here that it is impossible, because it could be construded to have the output from that to double also add infinitem. so nothing else would be requierd to supply the world WE have thrown the "Mail on Sunday away( two weeks ago) the invention was an Irish man and the Company developing it was from Surrey purported to have spent £2,000,000 so far but I dont have the patent information This is not a heat pump I used to service these so I am aware of there principle but this passes an electric current through the water which contains a potash "and a so called catalist which in electrolysis must be platinum !! it would break the law of consevation if it functioned as described, and the universe would be saved

Answer 4

The patent claim says 5 to 15% conversion efficiency. That's like 50 to 150 watts/m². Not really enough to run your home on quite yet. There's an outfit that clains 20 or 25% efficiency with solar dishes and stirling engines. But he direct conversion does have it's appeal. No moving parts, nothing to break or repair, etc, atc.

Doug