Organic Solar Cells to Become Competitive

Photovoltaic solar panels are definitely not a new concept. Experts think they are close to raising the competitiveness of organic solar cells, making them appropriate alternatives to the already popular crystalline silicon.

Heliatek thinks it is on the right path, since its sample cells displayed a 6.0 percent conversion efficiency two years ago, a number verified by The Fraunhofer Institute.

The rate grew to 8.3 percent in only one year. Encouraged by this success, scientists expect to obtain a 10 percent rate by next year.

Organic solar cells (OSCs) , also known as “third-generation solar technology,” come with a long list of benefits, since they are nontoxic, semi-transparent and lightweight.

The main bump in the road appears to be their questioned reliability, since this new green technology is currently exploited to deliver only 5 megawatts of power worldwide.

Despite this fact, Heliatek continues its research in this line of business, guaranteeing that OSCs are "the killer app for windows."