The Next Generation of Solar Is Lighter, Better, and Cheaper
New Arrivals
- Lighter, more versatile means of collecting the sun’s energy could be applied to more buildings in more places. Designers are already adapting roofs, siding, and even windows for energy generation. San Jose, California’s GAF Energy has developed a solar roofing system that is installed like regular asphalt shingles, while Ubiquitous Energy, based in nearby Redwood City, has developed a transparent panel that harvests light from the invisible spectrum and can be used on windows and other surfaces.
- But the pace of innovations in solar might be too rapid, meaning today’s solar cells may be obsolete tomorrow. Where some see a brewing e-waste problem, others see an opportunity. French company ROSI, for one, is betting that solar panel recycling will be big business. It has developed technology to recover valuable ingredients like silver and silicon from panels’ complex lamination, with the aim of using materials from the last generation to build the next.