Organic solar cells for large-scale fossil-competitive power production: science fiction? Perhaps no!

David Faiman

doi:10.1117/12.564852

3 November 2004 Organic solar cells for large-scale fossil-competitive power production: science fiction? Perhaps no!

David Faiman

Proceedings Volume 5520, Organic Photovoltaics V; (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.564852
Event: Optical Science and Technology, the SPIE 49th Annual Meeting, 2004, Denver, Colorado, United States

Abstract

The most widespread expectations for the future role of organic solar cells are probably as an extremely low-cost, easily-replaceable, power-producing medium for a wide variety of portable applications. This picture has come about owing to the present-day relatively low efficiency and stability of organic solar cells compared to their far more mature inorganic counterparts. However, even with the highest-efficiency and most stable inorganic solar cells there are still serious questions as to whether such technology could ever be cost-competitive with fossil-fuelled power generation, except for special niche situations. We have recently proposed that very large parabolic dishes, if used to illuminate inorganic solar cells at solar intensities several hundred times larger than normal, could lead to fossil-competitive solar power generation. The paper will review the technical details and economic projections of such systems and will discuss the conditions under which it might be possible for them to employ organic solar cells.

Citation Download Citation

David Faiman "Organic solar cells for large-scale fossil-competitive power production: science fiction? Perhaps no!", Proc. SPIE 5520, Organic Photovoltaics V, (3 November 2004); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.564852

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available