Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Environment & Energy
Related: About this forumPerovskite solar technology shows quick energy returns (payback could be as fast as 2-3 months)
http://www.anl.gov/articles/perovskite-solar-technology-shows-quick-energy-returns[font face=Serif][font size=5]Perovskite solar technology shows quick energy returns[/font]
By Payal Marathe July 17, 2015
[font size=3]Solar panels are an investmentnot only in terms of money, but also energy. It takes energy to mine, process and purify raw materials, and then to manufacture and install the final product.
Silicon-based panels, which dominate the market for solar power, usually need about two years to return this energy investment. But for technology made with perovskitesa class of materials causing quite a buzz in the solar research communitythe energy payback time could be as quick as two to three months.
By this metric, perovskite modules are better than any solar technology that is commercially available today.
These are the findings of a study by scientists at Northwestern University and the U.S. Department of Energys Argonne National Laboratory. The study took a broad perspective in evaluating solar technology: In whats called a cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment, scientists traced a product from the mining of its raw materials until its retirement in a landfill. They determined the ecological impacts of making a solar panel and calculated how long it would take to recover the energy invested.
[/font][/font]
By Payal Marathe July 17, 2015
[font size=3]Solar panels are an investmentnot only in terms of money, but also energy. It takes energy to mine, process and purify raw materials, and then to manufacture and install the final product.
Silicon-based panels, which dominate the market for solar power, usually need about two years to return this energy investment. But for technology made with perovskitesa class of materials causing quite a buzz in the solar research communitythe energy payback time could be as quick as two to three months.
By this metric, perovskite modules are better than any solar technology that is commercially available today.
These are the findings of a study by scientists at Northwestern University and the U.S. Department of Energys Argonne National Laboratory. The study took a broad perspective in evaluating solar technology: In whats called a cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment, scientists traced a product from the mining of its raw materials until its retirement in a landfill. They determined the ecological impacts of making a solar panel and calculated how long it would take to recover the energy invested.
[/font][/font]
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
4 replies, 710 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (8)
ReplyReply to this post
4 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Perovskite solar technology shows quick energy returns (payback could be as fast as 2-3 months) (Original Post)
OKIsItJustMe
Jul 2015
OP
Erich Bloodaxe BSN
(14,733 posts)1. Complete gamechanger if true.
Crossing my fingers. We need cheap, ubiquitous solar.
6chars
(3,967 posts)2. looks credible, but not without challenges
to commercialization. solar will still have the challenges of needing a lot of land, being intermittent, and being less effective in some climates. also gas is cheap for now and there's no carbon tax. but it does seem like an improvement that, if things work out, can fill some of the need efficiently. maybe there's more progress where that came from.
pscot
(21,024 posts)3. Let's hope the Chinese
have already stolen this.
Erich Bloodaxe BSN
(14,733 posts)4. If they have, more power to them.
If it wasn't simply shared, as much info in academia is. we need this sort of thing everywhere, as fast as possible. Keeping it held back to make some specific company more money would be a criminal waste of opportunity to help lessen the problems of climate change sooner.