Solar3D, the developer of a breakthrough 3-dimensional solar cell technology to maximize the conversion of sunlight into electricity, has been featured in articles published by CNBC.com and The Christian Science Monitor. Inspired by light management techniques used in fiber optic devices, the company’s innovative solar cell technology utilizes a 3-dimensional design to trap sunlight inside micro-photovoltaic structures where photons bounce around until they are converted into electrons. Solar3D’s management believes that this breakthrough solar cell design will dramatically change the economics of solar energy.
“It is exciting to see our progress recognized on a national level,” commented Jim Nelson, President and CEO of Solar3D. “The milestones reported in the articles are giant steps toward completion of our prototype, which could in turn greatly affect the economics of solar energy.”Solar3D’s new solar cell will have two principal sections: the Light Collector section and the Micro Photovoltaic section. The articles reported the completion of the Light Collector design, from which structure of the rest solar cell will flow. The company’s research and development team believes that they can soon calculate the increase in efficiency that the overall 3-dimensional solar cell can achieve relative to current technology.
CNBC.com and The Christian Science Monitor (which picked up the story from CNBC) also cited Bill Mazotti, of National Semiconductor, who finds Solar3D’s technology intriguing, especially with the tremendous pressure put on the solar industry to reduce the cost of generated electricity.“We are pleased that people recognize what we are trying to do,” continued Nelson. “We have taken up the gauntlet thrown down by (US Energy Secretary) Steven Chu to reduce the cost of solar power to $1 per kilowatt hour. The increased efficiency of the 3-dimensional solar cell, coupled with decreased costs of production we are designing in, will reduce the cost considerably.”