On February 26th, 2013 Solar3D Inc. (Santa Barbara, California, U.S.), developer of a 3-dimensional solar photovoltaic (PV) cell technology, announced that it has filed an international Patent Cooperation Treaty application for its next generation PV cell design and methods of fabrication in the United States.

Solar3D cells for the world

"This is the first big step in the final stretch toward making the Solar3D Cell available to the world. As we approach commercialization, we felt it imperative to expand the scope of our filing to cover our technology, process, and our potential geographic marketplace. Since we filed our initial patent application in 2010 and subsequent applications in 2012 we have made a number of new advances that have us poised to take an extraordinary product to market," Solar3D Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jim Nelson stated.

Solar3D's solar cell technology utilizes a 3-dimensional design to trap sunlight inside micro-PV structures where photons bounce around until they are converted into electrons.

The company states that proof-of-concept prototype of its innovative solar cell has prepared the firm to focus on the new product's commercialization - developing an advanced manufacturing prototype, executing a pilot production run, and identifying a fabrication partner that will mass produce the product and take it commercial.

Nelson added: "Our objective is grid parity or better. By re-engineering the solar cell to manage the light and extract all of its available power, we have made a product that: (1) is significantly more efficient, (2) can collect light from wide angles and (3) is production friendly. In doing so, we attack the economic issue of the solar cell from both sides to deliver more electricity at a substantially reduced cost per kilowatt hour."

2013-03-01 | Courtesy: Solar3D | solarserver.com © Heindl Server GmbH

Our editorial selection of breaking solar news is published at:
www.solarserver.com/solar-magazine/solar-news/top-solar-news.html