NanoSolar's PowerSheet cells have
reduced the cost of production from $3 a watt to a mere 30 cents per watt.
This makes, for the first time in history, solar power cheaper than burning
coal. These coatings are as thin as a layer of paint and can transfer sunlight
to power at amazing efficiency. Although the underlying technology has been
around for years, Nanosolar has created the actual technology to manufacture and
mass produce the solar sheets. The Nanosolar plant in San Jose, once in full
production in 2008, will be capable of producing 430 megawatts per year. This is
more than the combined total of every other solar manufacturer in the U.S.
Ed.note. Yeah, it's a great product, but one thing to remember is that
the efficiency isn't there yet. Thin film maxes out at 9%, flat panel around 18%
and concentrators at 40%. It'll be interesting to see if the cost is compelling
enough for business to compromise on the efficiency hit.
