In conventional solar panels, the silicon that converts light into electricity is covered with a network of silver lines that conduct electrons and serve as connection points for soldering together the individual solar cells that make up a panel. The network consists of rows of thin silver lines that feed into thicker wires called bus bars. Day4 replaces these bus bars with a new electrode that consists of rows of fine copper wires coated with an alloy material. The wires are embedded in an adhesive and aligned on a plastic film. The coated copper wires run on top of and perpendicular to the thin silver lines, connecting them to neighboring cells. The new electrode conducts electricity better than the silver lines, resulting in less power loss. It also covers up less of the silicon than the bus bars, leaving more area for absorbing light.
Technology Review
Day4 Energy produces annually 47 Megawatts of solar panels a year. This is up from 12 megawatts a year from 2007. They are using cells with 14.7% efficiency which is in the process of transitioning to the 17-18% efficiency cells. Great news for anyone that wants a system. Currently, the market has a influx of $4 dollars a watt. If the new production techniques are applied we may see cells drop to $3 dollars a watt. Still expensive but we are on course to see a Solar Revolution Shortly.
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