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Dr. Dastoor’s panels are only 3% efficient at most and only last for two years. Compare that to a silicon panel that is 20% efficient and lasts over 20 years. This means that over a lifetime, a 3D-printed organic solar panel will only produce 1.5% of the power of a silicon one. Due to the fact that purchasing the solar panel is the majority of the cost of solar power, this would make 3D printed solar power nearly 7 times more expensive per kWh than standard solar power.
Moreover, 99% of the panel is made from recyclable PET plastic, and the organic solar ink can be recycled using cellulose nanocrystal substrates or can be disposed of safely. This means that the panel’s end-of-life is inherently very environmentally harmonious, which is more than can be said for our current solar technology.
The cost savings of this technology is insane too. A square metre of 3D printed organic solar panel costs just $10, compared to a square metre of silicon panel at $100. Such a dramatic cost reduction can make solar power orders of magnitude cheaper than anything else we have and would set it as the golden standard of energy generation.
Well, not quite. There are two major issues with them.Dr. Dastoor’s panels are only 3% efficient at most and only last for two years. Compare that to a silicon panel that is 20% efficient and lasts over 20 years. This means that over a lifetime, a 3D-printed organic solar panel will only produce 1.5% of the power of a silicon one. Due to the fact that purchasing the solar panel is the majority of the cost of solar power, this would make 3D printed solar power nearly 7 times more expensive per kWh than standard solar power....3D printed organic solar panels is a technology in their infancy. There have only been a few people researching them for a handful of years, so it is no wonder that they can’t hold a candle to silicon solar with its 50+ years of research and innovation. Despite that, it seems these new panels may soon overtake their big brother and cause a second wave in the solar revolution . The big question is, will this happen before it is too late?
Solar Power Will Soon Be 90% Cheaper Thanks To 3D Printed Panels
AI and graphene
3D printed organic solar panels is a technology in their infancy. There have only been a few people researching them for a handful of years...
Yeahhhh. Isn't there some AI and graphene in there too?
The "3D printed" part was just shoehorned in, probably by the person that wrote this article, to get more views. I wouldn't consider it 3D printed at all, if you read the other articles they just call it printed.