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Australian researchers say their solar cells, printed on thin flexible plastic rolls, will be less than half the cost of conventional rigid solar cells. (www.nature.com)

submitted 8 months ago by Lugh to c/futurology

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[–] Lugh 25 points 8 months ago (2 children)

These use perovskite solar cells, a technology that promises extreme cheapness, but has problems with stability and efficiency. Research labs all over the world are working to overcome those problems, and this is a demonstration of that work in action.

The cheapness of renewables today is already an extinction-level event for the nuclear industry - what happens when solar is only half today's cost? ICE cars and their gasoline are next for extinction.

Today the average cost in the US of home solar installation is $12,700. China is making decent EVs for about the same cost. When solar halves, it means you'll be able to buy an EV car plus a lifetime of free fuel, for less than the cost of most gasoline cars.

[–] Pirky@lemmy.world 14 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (3 children)

The hard part about dropping solar installation costs is the installation part itself. It doesn't matter how cheap the panels get, it's always going to a few, to several, thousand dollars for the installation part alone. If we could find a way to streamline that (Idk if that's possible), then I think we'd see prices plummet.

Don't get me wrong, dropping panel prices is a very good thing. But I don't think it will make as much of a dent in the price as we might think.

[–] snooggums@midwest.social 9 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Thin enough to roll suggests it would be lighter weight which should make it easier and cheaper to install, especially on a rooftop. They would still need solid mounts if they are raised above a household roof, but like the difference between mounts for old and heavy CRTs and today's lightweight flat-screens.

It also means that there are possibilities for simply mounting it on walls and other surfaces that currently aren't options because of the weight of panels or the need to align them just right to recoup the cost.

[–] Pirky@lemmy.world 5 points 8 months ago

Ooh, I hadn't considered these. So it may actually be more impactful than I thought.

[–] mosiacmango@lemm.ee 4 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

There are bifacial solar panels, i.e they have panels on both sides. You place them vertically, and because of bouncing light and the fact that the placement prevents overheating, they actually do better than single faced cells. You can get 6kw worth of panels for 3k, which beats the 12.5k average by a lot.

The killer here is that you can use them as a "solar fence" that doesnt require roof mounting. In that context, installation is much easier. Just some post holes and a light trench for the cabling run back to the electrical panel.

Add in something like the ecoflow battery/smart panel and you can have a solid total solar system with backup for around 10k, probally 15k installed.

[–] Pirky@lemmy.world 3 points 8 months ago

I remember reading about them. Those could be a game changer if we can scale them up. I'd use them as a fence if it's feasible.

[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I get you. The possibilities are there, I see them. But in the end you're paying a skilled crew to come punch holes in your roof. I've done that installing satellite dishes.

For one, paying rooftop workers is insane. Good luck getting worker's comp insurance. Most places won't even consider it. And they have to do a solid job, because a roof leak is an insurance nightmare for all parties.

Still, I'd go for it as prices drop. OTOH, I risk a hurricane ripping my shit to pieces, and I'm well inland.

At this time, and it's close, the ROI isn't quite there for my home. I'm looking at 12-years before breaking even, and will the cells last that long? Hell, will I last that long? On top of the financial consideration, there are loads of scammers running door-to-door. They're leasing your power, you pay forever, you never own your power plant.

But there's hope! Lemmy acts like Florida is a conservative hellscape, and I'm in arguably the most conservative part. Solar farms are exploding around here. I'm well connected to the environment here, hate to see 100s of acres flattened, but it's worth the cost.

Been playing with solar to run my little 10' boat and trolling motor! Getting a badass 280Ahr/12V LiOn battery tomorrow. Also working on ghetto solar for my camp in the swamp.

[–] psud@aussie.zone 2 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

Current cells last pretty well to 20 years (with at least 80% performance by the end) yours has a really long payback though, mine in 2011 had paid for themselves in six years, and though there aren't high feed in tariffs anymore, the panels are much, much cheaper now than then

[–] Navigator@jlai.lu 2 points 8 months ago

Having cheaper solar panel just so we can buy more cars... What a strange idea.

[–] Creat@discuss.tchncs.de 0 points 8 months ago

And like every solar breakthrough that is announced, will be available roughly 2037 or something.