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Printable, Rollable Solar Panels Could Go Anywhere

Posted by timothy on from the why-isn't-my-car's-dome-light-an-led dept.

Al writes "A startup based in Toledo, Ohio, has developed a way to make large, flexible solar panels using a roll-to-roll manufacturing technique. Thin-film amorphous silicon solar cells are formed on thin sheets of stainless steel, and each solar module is about one meter wide and five-and-a-half meters long. Conventional silicon solar panels are bulky and rigid, but these lightweight, flexible sheets could easily be integrated into roofs and building facades."

8 of 187 comments (clear)

  1. Easy money by XPeter · · Score: 1, Funny

    1. Miniaturize the solar panels.
    2. Make adapters for them so they can be used in everyday devices (phones and such)
    3. ???
    4.Profit!

    --
    "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it's limits" - Albert Einstein
    1. Re:Easy money by AuMatar · · Score: 2, Funny

      Welcome to the 80s, where I thought I was cool for having a solar powered calculator.

      --
      I still have more fans than freaks. WTF is wrong with you people?
  2. Re:Will we actually be able to buy these? by drinkypoo · · Score: 3, Funny

    There's no need for them to offer panels to consumers; their business model is quite sound.

    The quality of their business plan is completely irrelevant to my reaction to my inability to purchase their product.

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  3. Safety by MrKaos · · Score: 4, Funny

    Solar Power, it's the safest form of nuclear power.

    --
    My ism, it's full of beliefs.
    1. Re:Safety by hedwards · · Score: 2, Funny

      Nonsense, that would be geothermal. Compare the rates of burned to death by volcanoes with died of skin cancer, I think the answer is obvious.

    2. Re:Safety by MrKaos · · Score: 3, Funny

      Imperfectly though. Otherwise the sky would be dark during the day.

      I've gotta get my vitamin D from somewhere.

      --
      My ism, it's full of beliefs.
  4. Re:Will we actually be able to buy these? by drinkypoo · · Score: 2, Funny

    The quality of their business plan is completely irrelevant to my reaction to my inability to purchase their product.

    Also, your reaction to your inability to purchase their product is completely irrelevant to the quality of their business plan.

    Unfortunately, the quality of the irrelevance is that I am unable to react by purchasing their product.

    Er, and, Plan, or something.

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  5. Fallout 3 by grassy_knoll · · Score: 2, Funny

    Next item we need to add to the list of critically needed tech. Water purification

    Let me guess... been playing a lot of Fallout 3 lately?

    --
    A Human Right