Jul 15 2010
Solarmer Energy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), a unit of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), have pooled in to upgrade solar conversion technology that will prolong the shelf life of plastic solar cells.
The two factions endorsed the Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) for cooperative research to delve into the constancy and life span of organic photovoltaic (OPV) components, which are composed of layers that garner solar energy.
According to CRADA provisions, Solarmer's active layer systems will be assessed by NREL researchers for Combinatorial degradation system which will appraise the functioning of 360 OPV devices in parallel under-mimicked solar conditions that will hasten the test results. This optimization of the resilience of OPV cells is likely to boost the profitability of the technology.
Subsequently, the construction of OPV technology comprising plastic solar cells will become more economical than traditional silicon solar cells due to use of low-priced components. They can be produced in bulk through ground-breaking techniques and can possibly equalize the cost of conventional electricity.
Both the participants are convinced of providing safer insulations and exteriors, which will perk up the life span of the plastic solar cells.