Solar Panel Breakthrough – Twice the efficiency at half the cost



Xtreme Energetics, a solar energy system developer based in Livermore, Calif., announced they have entered into an agreement with HP (NYSE:HPQ) for the development of a solar energy system designed to generate electricity at twice the efficiency and only half the cost of today’s current solar panels. The collaboration is based on a transparent transistor technology that was co-developed at Oregon State University.

The transistor technology’s unique component is made with thin film transparent transistors that are made from low-cost, readily available materials that are environmentally friendly, allow for better chemical stability, higher mobility and easier manufacture.

The transistor technology enables Xtreme Energetics concentration and tracking system to maximize the concentration of light through a transparent electronic mechanism. Xtreme Energetics's system, when coupled with the transparent transistor technology, improves conversion efficiencies as it allows for maximum light penetration that would otherwise be blocked by traditional non-transparent electronics. This allows the panels to convert more solar energy into electricity at nearly half the cost of normal conversion.

Colin P. Williams, chief executive officer, Xtreme Energetics says "Blending art and science, our ultra-high efficiency solar energy systems can serve both the central utility and rooftop markets using low-cost, ecologically harmonious and architecturally inspiring designs.” He went on to say that “Our agreement with HP allows us to bring an advanced solar energy solution to the market that is superior to other offerings currently available."

Xtreme Energetics flat design eliminates the need for tracking the sun as it travels across the horizon. By combining XE’s technology with HP’s transparent transistor technology, the system can be patterned to mimic almost any building material for better aesthetic appeal. All of the conventional headaches such as the inherent dilemmas of mechanical solar trackers, which can incur high maintenance cost and are vulnerable to high winds, are eliminated with the low-profile design; thus making rooftop installation practical. Coupled with the ease of rooftop installation and the lower manufacture cost, these new solar panels become much more competitive with traditional energy production methodologies.

"Open innovation to foster collaborative research is essential in today's fast-paced, innovation-fueled market," said Joe Beyers, vice president, Intellectual Property Licensing, HP. "Through our collaborative research and by licensing HP's core intellectual property in electronics, we are accelerating the pace of technology transfer so that it can be applied more rapidly into creating commercial, renewable energy solutions."

This development brings forth a new era in solar panel design. Not only is Extreme Energetics able to produce these panels at only half the cost of traditional solar panels, but they are able to produce these new solar panels with twice the output of solar electricity.