Aussie researchers develop spray-on solar

Researchers in Australia have started a three-year project to develop spray-on solar panels that are more efficient and less costly than today's PV.

Australian National University is working with solar company Spark Solar Australia and Finnish materials company Braggone Oy on the method, which could be commercially available by 2011, reports G-Online.

The method sprays hydrogen film and anti-reflective film on a conveyor belt. Traditionally, solar facilities use the plasma form of hydrogen and a vacuum method to deposit silicon nitrate as an anti-reflective coating. The two factors add significantly to the cost of a solar production facility, and the researchers said a spray-on method could reduce a medium-sized factory's overall cost by about AUD$5 million.

"The cells will be the same quality, but much cheaper," McIntosh said to G-Online. "These savings should be passed down to the consumer in a couple of years when demand for solar panels increases."

The researchers are also trying to improve solar cells' efficiency by experimenting with different surfaces.

Last week, researchers from Swansea University in Wales said they were investigating roll-on methods for reducing the cost of solar (see UK researchers simplify low-light solar with paint-on PV).

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