Smart Grid Technologies: NREL and Solarmer Energy to Partner on Longer-Lasting, Cheaper Solar Cells

Cheaper, more durable plastic solar cells could enhance the commercial future of organic photovoltaic (OPV) technologies by bringing the cost of solar electricity in line with the cost of conventionally-produced electricity. That's the goal of the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and plastic solar panel developer Solarmer Energy. NREL senior scientist Dana C. Olson said "Through this collaboration we hope to improve plastic solar cell performance and extend the cells' lifetime through the development of stable device architectures and packaging systems." Eventually, OPV technologies such as plastic solar cells could cost a fraction of conventional silicon cells because materials would be cheaper and could be manufactured in high volumes.

Quick Take: As is the case with many Smart Grid technologies, the challenge is to develop renewable energy generation processes and components that are durable, practical to produce and cost-competitive with conventionally-produced electricity.

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