In five to seven years, solar cells will have become much
cheaper and only one-twentieth as thick as current solar cells. The trick is to
deceive the sunlight with microbeads.
Nanoscientists are currently developing the next generation
of solar cells, which will be twenty times thinner than current solar cells.
Over 90 per cent of the current electricity generated by
solar panels is made by silicon plates that are 200 micrometres thick. Several
billion of these are produced every year. The problem is the large consumption
of silicon: five grams per watt.
200 Alta power stations: This year, between five and ten
billion solar panel units will be produced worldwide. This is the equivalent of
30 GW, or the capacity of 200 Alta power stations.
Though silicon is one of the most common elements on earth,
pure silicon does not exist in nature. Silicon binds readily to other elements.
In order for solar cells to function, the silicon plate must consist of at
minimum 99,9999 per cent silicon. You read that right: if the solar cell
consists of more than one millionth other materials, it does not work.