Solar panels have learned to do with a particle accelerator

The cost of solar panels is dropping exponentially, and solar energy currently 80% cheaper than it was in 2010. A new method of production can make them even cheaper and at the same time more efficient.

The use of a particle accelerator, which accelerates subatomic particles to nearly the speed of light, Rayton Solar ultra-precise cuts pieces of silicon, the main material for most solar panels. In the ordinary manufacture of rough cutting process spends most of the material is wasted. In the manufacture of silicon wafer thickness 200, 200 micron material goes nowhere as chips. Then, in the printed wiring plate, the top anti-reflective coating is applied and then the finished part gets to Assembly line.





New patented technology eliminates this waste, and it allows you to work with a silicon thickness of only 4 microns.

When you have a certain level of energy to the particles, and you fire it into the workpiece made of silicon, it will penetrate to certain depth of the silicon. So we make our cut to such a precise depth, explained Andrew Yakub, 29-year-old CEO of Rayton Solar.

Keeping the material may be silicon of higher quality called Float Zone Silicon, which previously was not economically advantageous for companies. The new panel will eventually be 25% more efficient. Also, you need less because you have less equipment and land. Thus, these solar panels will produce 60% cheaper.





The sharp fall in the value can help solar energy to grow much faster than now. Rayton Solar has managed to successfully demonstrate the process in the lab, and now the company collects the crowdfunding funds for the construction of a pilot production line (it is planned in the USA).

— Solar energy is on the threshold, when it can become the cheapest source of electricity. Left only to cross it. Due to small technological improvements like this, it will go forward and cross it, becoming used worldwide. That would be the best economic solution anywhere. We see that this occurs regardless of the use of development Rayton. But our technology will accelerate that — said Jakub.
At the same time, he is confident that, despite the differences in politics in different countries, natural market forces will take control. published



 

Source: solarpanels.com.ua/news/solnechnye-paneli-nauchilis-delat-pri-pomoshchi-uskoritelya-zaryazhennykh-chastits-2/