The biggest argument against Solar Cells is the aesthetic value. Sure, to some people money is no object. They care about the cool factor and how sporty it looks. But fancy yourself with several Sharp PV Cells on your roof, well now that is really cool! With that aside many manufacturers are pumping out cells that are cute and customizable. These cells are printed as a film on translucent objects. Such as glass windows or 'designer shingles.' The technology is already being incorporated into windows but a new company was award the Nanotech Trade Fair seal of approval.
The semi-transparent solar modules combine the use of a special organic dye and nanoparticles that allow for the conversion of sunlight into electricity.
The cool thing about the process is, you choice from a variety of colors & patterns. Just like T-Shirts companies today, you will be able to choose words or even have custom designs.
The downside is, they are own @ 4% efficiency and they last about 7000 hours of continuous use. Booo! (a little less than a year)
Keep an eye out for 'the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems '
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