In a few years, with the use of nanotechnology, the cost of setting up a solar power plant will be reduced by half, thereby negating the argument that mass producing solar power is cost prohibitive.
At present, capital investment in a solar plant is Rs 15-18 crore per mega watt - four times that of thermal energy at Rs 4-5 crore/ MW. The cost is expected to be slashed by half and efficiency doubled when nano technology is integrated in solar cells in 4-5 years.
Even though conventional solar cells are expensive and cannot yet achieve high efficiency, it may be possible to lower the manufacturing costs using nanotechnology. Institutions such as the University of California Berkeley and Konarka Technologies are actively pursuing ways to make this happen. Although solar cells are not efficient enough to replace large-scale electric grids, there are many opportunities for them to be used for low power devices. The effects that a low cost, reasonably efficient (low power) solar cell would have on society are tremendous. It would help preserve the environment, protect soldiers, provide rural areas with electricity, and transform the electronics industry. These dramatic effects, which would all be a result of nanotechnology, would greatly change and even improve society.
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
This blog is to bring out the ideas which makes the use of renewable energy more popular and reach it to masses. It is to spread awareness that how the renewable energy can be used more effectively.
