Making solar cells sustainable

Researchers from eight universities across the UK have embarked on the country’s largest ever research project into photovoltaics. Led by Durham University, the
The consortium will focus its attention on inorganic materials and will look at ways of improving efficiency in current technologies as well as using new materials.

For large-scale photovoltaics manufacture, materials costs dominate and, together with module efficiency, determine the cost per kW peak. A closely related issue is sustainability. For example, the metal indium is a key component in photovoltaics, but is rare and expensive (it cost $660/kg in 2007). “Reducing the thickness of semiconductor by 1 micron in 10% efficient cells with a peak generating capacity of 1 GW would save 50 tonnes of material,” says Durose.

Environmental Research Web