In the next few years the company plans to bring the cost of electricity from its batteries to the average prices in the U.S. market (about 10 cents per kilowatt-hour), primarily due to the optimization of production and the increase in output (photo Solyndra).
Young American company which is called Solyndra (from the English words “sunny” and “cylinder”) has developed and brought to market a new type of photovoltaic cells (solar cells). On assurances of the founders, their product is easier and cheaper to install and delivers more energy in the network.
We talked about the achievements in this field: the world record for silicon solar cell efficiency – 42,8%, organic solar cells – 11,1%, flexible solar converters – 17,7%. At the same time, record conversion efficiency of sunlight in the current supplied to the network, – 31,25%.
Unlike standard solar panels, which are made from large flat items, the new converters are made in the form of cylinders.
Thin film of semiconductor material (based on copper, indium, gallium and selenium) is applied to the glass tube. Then it is placed in the second the same tube with electrical contacts, similar to those used in fluorescent lamps.
This form allows you to increase the amount of absorbed light (and hence power) during the day without changing the design of the batteries.
Cylindrical solar cells (photo Solyndra).
The fact that the maximum absorption occurs when light falls on the plate at right angles, and for flat solar cells require special systems that track the position of the sun (and this extra space, complexity in the mechanism and, consequently, money).
In addition, the stability of plants from Solyndra is practically not affected by the wind (for technical data, to a speed of 200 kilometers per hour), and they are cooled rapidly, which reduces operating temperatures and increases the reliability of the system.
As a consequence, set them on the roofs of simpler and cheaper (no need counterweights) than couples with tracking systems for the Sun. Easy to set up the company even devoted a separate video (you can see here).
By the way, the distance between cylinders also increases the efficiency, as passing through the slit light is reflected from the roof of the building (and its reflectivity can be artificially increased by using a special white coating), and falls on the part of the battery, that is during the day in the shade.
At present the company has received orders totaling $ 1.2 billion and is selling cylindrical solar cells worldwide. We constructed another plant, which will annually produce solar cells that can put a network of about 110 megawatts of electricity.
Establish a system plan on the roofs of large stores, warehouses and other commercial buildings.