| Thin Film Solar Panels | | | | just waiting for their utilities or for thin film to get |
| You may have heard of the solar revolution. It is | | | | into full production. |
| currently here, in the beginning stages. Solar | | | | Thin Film Solar Panels are Easier to Install |
| technology is expected to double every three | | | | Is it much easier to put something light onto our |
| years (moores law) - like the computer industry. | | | | home than something heavy. The lightweight thin |
| With thin film solar panels, solar will become much | | | | film solar will be able to be applied so much easier |
| cheaper and easier to install. | | | | that installation cost will plummet. About half the |
| Thin Film Solar Panels are Cheaper to Produce | | | | cost of installing a solar system is paying for the |
| Is it cheaper to buy a piece of paper or a piece | | | | contractor. With thin film solar, you can expect |
| of glass? Is is easier to install something that | | | | that the contractor pricing will be reduced by |
| weighs 10 pounds or something that weighs less | | | | more than two thirds. As the industry gains |
| than a pound? Is this really possible? | | | | momentum, homeowners will install their own |
| The answer is yes. Due to special dyes and inks, | | | | solar panels as they get support from stores like |
| solar panels can be produced in a wide range of | | | | Home Depot and Lowes. All these factors point to |
| thin film plastics with a special printing machine. | | | | a much lower cost of getting into solar, for your |
| One company that pioneered thin film solar is | | | | home. |
| Nanosolar. They are a start up company with a | | | | Innovation will take leaps and bounds with the |
| lot of financial backing from Google. Nanosolar has | | | | new technology. Thin film solar can be applied in |
| invented special inks that use nanotechnology to | | | | many new ways that have never been used or |
| create a solar panel with a special layered printing | | | | thought of before. For example, as of today, |
| process. | | | | there are solar shingles and solar panels built into |
| The other company to watch is Covalent Solar. | | | | solar cars (like the Toyota Prius). These |
| They use special dyes instead of ink. The | | | | innovations are awesome, but much more is |
| company was started at MIT and has some | | | | coming. For example, some engineers are working |
| bright engineers working there. What is the | | | | on producing solar paint. Can you imagine painting |
| difference between an ink and a dye? The | | | | your entire home with a solar panel? That would |
| difference is semantics, at best. What is important | | | | be something a homeowner could do and could |
| to know is that there is more than one company | | | | cover a lot of area for a great price. Thin film |
| working on the same processes and they are | | | | solar will also be light enough to roll up and pack |
| both having success. The efficiency rates | | | | around to install just about anywhere. Finally, |
| produced by Covalent solar are amazing. Both | | | | people are planning on plugging their electric cars |
| companies expect to be into full production in the | | | | into their solar home grid. The day of fossil fuels |
| near future. | | | | may just be on its way out. |
| So, the main thing about thin film solar is that the | | | | Final Thought |
| price is going to come way down. There is a | | | | For solar to become the dominant energy source, |
| certain threshold that will make or break the | | | | it will take longer than expected and bumps in the |
| industry. When solar is less costly than using your | | | | road will exist. One of the largest bumps, in the |
| utility provider, you can expect a revolution. Since | | | | road, will be huge displacements of wealth, as |
| utility prices vary widely, certain areas will catch | | | | about a third of the fortune 500 companies are |
| onto solar first. However, once solar is cheaper | | | | energy companies. In addition, how will foreign oil |
| than most utilities, you can expect the revolution | | | | nations produce wealth? As people gain energy |
| to gain some real traction. Will it happen? Many | | | | independence, they will become more free and |
| proponents of solar are saying that it is going to | | | | have more real wealth, but people will need to |
| happen soon. Already, at this point, many utilities | | | | stand up for it. There are a lot of companies |
| have a huge backlog of customers that want to | | | | trying to harness all the new customers and |
| tie into the grid or that have applied for utility | | | | trying to take over the new solar energy market. |
| rebate programs. Many people are committed and | | | | |