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New Photovoltaics Made with Titanium Foil

Posted by timothy on from the light-metal dept.

Memorize writes "A company called Daystartech has released a new type of photovoltaic cell which, unlike almost all the cells currently in use, does not silicon. This is based on a thin titanium film. Given the current shortage of solar-grade silicon, and all-time high oil prices, maybe titanium solar panels are here at the right time. The questions are, will they release it as a consumer solar product, and what will be the price per kilowatt hour?"

2 of 346 comments (clear)

  1. Price per kilowatt hour... by MisterLawyer · · Score: 5, Insightful
    The way this question is posed demonstrates a common misunderstanding of the costs and benefits of investing in alternative energy sources.

    Obviously, the marginal price per kilowatt hour is $0. The difference between obtaining 100 kilowatt hours and 101 kilowatt hours is nothing. You would simply have to wait for enough sunlight to hit the solar panel to generate that extra 1 kilowatt hour.

    The true cost of investing in solar energy is in the intial cost of manufacturing and setting up the panel.

    Thus, the actual cost per kilowatt hour depends on how long you use the solar panel. The longer you use the panel, the cheaper each kilowatt hour becomes.

    1. Re:Price per kilowatt hour... by soupdevil · · Score: 5, Insightful

      That's assuming zero maintenance costs, and that waiting costs you nothing.