Nano-Solar Tech and cheap LEDs

[Skyorbit]

This is my first post to the forum, and I hope this is the right place to ask. I posted a very simular message over on the NHFree forums and one person refered me to here.

I've got two articles from about a year or so ago about nano-solar technologies, that aren't as efficient, but are like 20 times cheaper. Both of these articles claim then in about 5 years these technologies shold hopefully be availible to the public. The only thing is -- it's been about a year and I haven't been able to find anything on them. Do people here keep up on this sort of tech? Has anybody heard anything about how soon normal joe smoes like you and I will have access to this solar tech?
http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2003/Oct/1020443.htm

This article describes a different process for creating electricity even on cloudy days by converting infrared into electricity.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/01/0114_050114_solarplastic.html

Same thing. How close are these technologies to being mass produced?

I couldn't find the article about LEDs that I had read, but this one's close.
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techinnovations/2005-04-14-led-lighting_x.htm

Basically I had read a report about a company that had developed ways of making LEDs multicolour clusters that could generate as much light as a regular light bulb, and that they were projecting these clusters would be down to about the same price as a standard light bulb is now, in about five years.

Does anybody know what I'm talking about, or does anybody have any updates on these technologies?


If you know of anything more recent about these technologies since these articles were first published I'd be apreciative. When these articles were published all of them said these technologies would be availible on the marketplace for these w/in 5 years. Well, for the STMicroelectronics article, it's been 2 already.

Just wondering if I'm going to need to spend $20,000 on my solar electric system or if I'll be able to get away with 3 or 4 thousand by the time I manage to get to NH 3 or 4 years from now.

Thanks,

Tracy
(Crossposted from the NHFree Forums)
http://forum.soulawakenings.com/index.php?topic=5056.0
TS

[CarolAnn]

Skyorbit,
Welcome to the Backwoods Home Forum!

You've posted some good links. I also read about this a while back, but couldn't find anything recent on the ST Microelectronics website: http://www.st.com/stonline/

That is such a monster-huge company, they should have plenty of resources to develop it. Have you read the article at:
http://www.eere.energy.gov/news/news_detail.cfm?news_id=8785

Even that one is a year and a half old - and I haven't found much newer than that.

I wonder if the technology didn't work out, or if the power companies were able to suppress it? We've got some terific experts here who can really give you good advice about getting off the grid, how to, and how much it'll cost!

12VoltMan? Get in here!

[Skyorbit]

Thanks for the Reply. Sorry it took me so long to get back here. (I kind of forgot I'd posted it.) But I apreciate your information.

Tracy

[ffd430]

I purchased some comuter equipment that was manufactured by STMicroelectronics... its imposible to get drivers from them. they have all but gone out of buisness.

[Skyorbit]

I purchased some comuter equipment that was manufactured by STMicroelectronics... its imposible to get drivers from them. they have all but gone out of buisness.

Bummer :(

Tracy

[Rancher]

If you take look at almost all newer trucks on the highways, and many of the newer cars, you will find LED lights on most of them. It is said that they last longer, require less power and continue brightness longer compared in older incandecent light bulbs.

[Quietgentleman]

The LED light bulbs are out there now here's a place you can order them online

http://www.besthomeledlighting.com/all_led_bulbs?gclid=CKS5g_7ziY8CFQ2aOAodpk8zug

QGM

[12vman]

Pack a big lunch if you plan to see any incredible, cheap solar panels/technology in the near future. These "Snake Oil" claims have been going around for years and I haven't seen any yet..

As for lighting, L.E.D.'s are just for basic low level lighting situations and will not compare to any type of incandescent lights.. Period..

For room/area lighting, think fluorescent. You'll definitely get more bang per watt..

[DavidOH]

In my mail on Saturday was the latest issue of
Popular Science. This was on the front page:

"Best of What's New: Innovation of the Year
Nanosolar Powersheet
Of the thousands of products we surveyed, this is the one we think is most likely to change the world. It brings solar energy to the masses with a powerful new technology—a flexible panel printed like a newspaper, and nearly as cheap. "

http://www.popsci.com/popsci/currentissue/index.html

http://www.popsci.com/popsci/flat/bown/2007/

[tufhelp]

:-/ I just hope this isn’t another “flying car” invention, the perennial article for a product that has never come to fruition but makes the cover of PS all the time…

Here is hoping!


The company home page, click on products to sign up for emails regarding upcoming public product launch:

http://www.nanosolar.com/about.htm

This blurb says the technology will be available to the public later this year - written in 2006:

http://www.scintillatingscience.com/content/view/55/

This one totes some heavy hitter investors:

http://www.inc.com/magazine/20061101/green50_futurists_pagen_3.html

[DavidOH]

Their website seem much more active thatn it did the last time I visited it.

The latest news:
Nanosolar Awarded Largest Solar America Contract
September 23, 2007
Posted by Martin Roscheisen, CEO

Nanosolar secures 647,000 sqft of manufacturing space.

Nanosolar raises $100,000,000; building factory.

IBM's top manufacturing executive joins Nanosolar.

Google founders invest in Nanosolar.

[chrisser]

'Third-wave' solar panels power Nanosolar's first contract.

http://www.semiconductor-today.com/news_items/NEWS_2007/DEC_07/NANOSOLAR_311207.htm

Excerpt:

"Copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) photovoltaic technology is making its first steps from investor promise to physical products. Furthermore, Nanosolar of San Jose, CA, USA has won a contract to supply panels for a solar power plant located on a former landfill site owned by one of the largest waste management companies in east Germany.

The project will be based on Nanosolar’s ‘Utility Panel’ in combination with systems technology and services from Beck Energy of GmbH of Kolitzheim, Germany. The initial size of the plant is planned to be 1MW (sufficient to power 400 homes).

The Utility Panel is the first product in Nanosolar’s PowerSheet product line, which is designed as a solution for solar power plants on free fields at the outskirts of towns and cities.

"

[Skyorbit]

It's been a long time since I've been on the forums. Just wondered if anybody who follows this stuff knows what practical stuff is availible for people to purchase.

Tracy

[PaulNKS]

Hi Tracy and welcome back. What do you mean by "practical stull"? Are you referring to the solar components or appliances, or..... ? I'm sure someone can answer your question if it is a little more specific.

Good luck,
Paul

[Skyorbit]

What stuff is available that I could just purchase.

I did find a company called Nano-Solar. They're a German company, but aparently they're having trouble mass producing this "dirt cheep" technology because their orders are backed up for 10 months.

We just had a house fire a couple months ago, and I'm kind of wondering if there's anything availble now that I could integrate into my current ellectrical system during the rebuild. The insurence company is required to rewire the whole house anyway (to keep up to "code") so I was just wondering if anybody knew anything that was available now.

TRacy

[PaulNKS]

I guess I'm not understanding.. You can integrate any part of it almost... now... It depends on what you want. You could start with just enough to operate the lighting in one room or the whole house.... It depends on what you want to start with and how far you want to take it. It also has a lot to do with your budget.

The best thing is just check out the solar/wind/hydro distributors... not the manufacturers. I have used backwoodssolar.com since I started. They are great for answering questions, their pricing is about as good as any I've seen and all the employees live off grid.
Maybe that will get you going in the right direction?

[flatwater]

I get nanosolars monthly news letter and they aren't about to sell it to the public. I personnaly think they are tied up with the investers.