Energy News  
Scientists study photovoltaic solar energy

disclaimer: image is for illustration purposes only
by Staff Writers
Durham, England (UPI) Jan 14, 2008
British scientists led by Durham University are starting one of the United Kingdom's largest research projects into photovoltaic solar energy.

The $12.3 million, four-year PV-21 program is to focus on making thin-film light absorbing cells for solar panels from sustainable and affordable materials.

The project, which starts in April, involves researchers from eight U.K. universities: Durham, Bangor, Bath, Cranfield, Edinburgh, Northumbria, Southampton and Imperial College London. The scientists, along with nine industrial partners, will work toward a "medium- to long-term goal" of making solar energy more competitive and sustainable.

At present solar cells are made from key components such as the rare metal indium, which costs approximately $300 per pound. To cut costs, the researchers will work to reduce the thickness of the cells.

The scientists said they will also experiment with the use of nanotechnology and dyes on ultra-thin silicon to capture increased amounts of energy from the sun's rays.

The project is funded by Britain's Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.

Community
Email This Article
Comment On This Article

Related Links
All About Solar Energy at SolarDaily.com



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


Oerlikon Solar Invests In Singapore To Build Up Asia Business
Pfaffikon, Switzerland (SPX) Jan 14, 2008
With its new location in Singapore, Oerlikon Solar is boosting its presence and proximity to customers in Asia, while continuing to expand production, development and support for their leading thin-film silicon solar energy solutions. The facility will initially employ approximately 100 people and is planned to be completed within a year.







  • EU members braced for emissions targets
  • GM to make biofuel out of garbage
  • Analysis: Will new energy law deliver?
  • EU to tighten restrictions on biofuels

  • Trade, Iran stand-off driving Sarkozy's nuclear strategy in Gulf
  • Total, Suez, Areva to build two nuclear plants in Abu Dhabi
  • Analysis: Britain revives nuclear power
  • France forms consortium to supply nuclear power to Abu Dhabi: report

  • New Model Revises Estimates Of Terrestrial Carbon Dioxide Uptake
  • A Breathable Earth
  • Researchers Find Origin Of Breathable Atmosphere Half A Billion Years Ago
  • Study Reveals Lakes A Major Source Of Prehistoric Methane

  • PM pledges one billion dollars for struggling mining, forestry towns
  • No Convincing Evidence For Decline In Tropical Forests
  • Carbon Sink Capacity In Northern Forests Reduced By Global Warming
  • Indonesia: President urges better forest management amid floods

  • Micro-Grant Makes Business Boom For Iraqi Butcher
  • Meat, milk from cloned animals appear safe for humans: EU agency
  • Greenhouse Ocean May Downsize Fish
  • Overgrazing Accelerating Soil Erosion In Northern Mexico

  • GM must expand in India to compete with Tata: chief
  • Carmakers stress green at Detroit auto show
  • Toyota to offer plug-in hybrids by 2010: chief
  • Nissan is girding for a fight with Chinese automakers

  • Qatar Airways looking to natural gas fuel
  • EADS offers to build military, civilian aircraft in US
  • Purdue Wind Tunnel Key For Hypersonic Vehicles And Future Space Planes
  • Antarctic ballooning hits milestone

  • Nuclear Power In Space - Part 2
  • Outside View: Nuclear future in space
  • Nuclear Power In Space

  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2007 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement