I have been hearing about Thin Film Solar Panel Sheets for years now. Unfortunately progress has been slow to develop a fully functioning product for the public sector that is efficient and affordable. Current technology just doesn't produce enough power in relation to surface area.
The Idaho National Laboratory along with other partners have developed a new type of Thin Film Solar Sheet that collects energy from the infrared light spectrum. Infrared light is invisible to the human eye. During Sunlight Hours... The Earth absorbs infrared light from the Sun. After Sunset... The Earth releases infrared light for many hours. This enables the sheets to collect energy both during the day and for many hours past sunset. This is all accomplished by utilizing massive amounts of atomic scale antennas all packed together on a thin flexible sheet. The antennas are the 1/25th the size of a human hair. Panels could be made for only a few dollars per foot, potentially making solar power affordable for nearly everyone.
Unfortunately this technology will not be ready until around 2012-2014. Widespread availability?... Time will tell.
For more information...
News and Video from official Website :: http://www.microcontinuum.com/solar.htm
Idaho National Laboratory :: News Archive
-------
Please Recycle... It's the simplest step to a healthier planet. Please Recycle... It's the simplest step to a healthier planet. Please Recycle... It's the simplest step to a healthier planet. Please Recycle... It's the simplest step to a healthier planet. Please Recycle... It's the simplest step to a healthier planet.
