Technology Focus
Photovoltaics
Renewable energy is high on the political agenda at the moment. One bright hope for the future is solar power, but first the production costs must be reduced to make it competitive with the traditional alternatives of coal and oil.
Editorial
Playing catch-up - p277
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.66
Full Text - Playing catch-up | PDF (228 KB) - Playing catch-up
Research Highlights
Improving efficiencies using dipoles, nanotubes and parallel heterojunctions - p279
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.67
Full Text - Improving efficiencies using dipoles, nanotubes and parallel heterojunctions | PDF (230 KB) - Improving efficiencies using dipoles, nanotubes and parallel heterojunctions
Industry Perspectives
Manufacturing technology: Fabrication innovations - pp281 - 283
Nigel Mason
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.70
Advances at every stage of the manufacturing process are helping to reduce costs in the photovoltaics industry, but there is still a long way to go before photovoltaic cells reach their true potential.
Full Text - Manufacturing technologyFabrication innovations | PDF (607 KB) - Manufacturing technologyFabrication innovations
Multijunction cells: Record breakers - pp284 - 286
Richard R. King
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.68
Multijunction solar cells used in concentrator photovoltaics have enabled record-breaking efficiencies in electricity generation from the Sun's energy, and have the potential to make solar electricity cost-effective at the utility scale.
Full Text - Multijunction cellsRecord breakers | PDF (789 KB) - Multijunction cellsRecord breakers
Organic materials: Fantastic plastic - pp287 - 289
Russell Gaudiana & Christoph Brabec
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.69
Polymer materials could bring down the cost of electricity production using photovoltaic technology to below $1 per watt for the first time, and enable mass-market, portable applications for photovoltaic technology.
Full Text - Organic materialsFantastic plastic | PDF (802 KB) - Organic materialsFantastic plastic
Business News
New plants, collaborative research, joint ventures and record growth - p290
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.71
Full Text - New plants, collaborative research, joint ventures and record growth | PDF (333 KB) - New plants, collaborative research, joint ventures and record growth
Product Highlights
Innovative manufacturing systems for photovoltaic cells - p291
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.72
Full Text - Innovative manufacturing systems for photovoltaic cells | PDF (407 KB) - Innovative manufacturing systems for photovoltaic cells
Interview
Accelerating adoption - p292
Interview with Winfried Hoffmann
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.73
The photovoltaics industry is growing fast, but it still needs to bring down costs before it can reach its true potential. Nadya Anscombe talks to Winfried Hoffmann, president of the European Photovoltaics Industry Association, to find out more.
Full Text - Accelerating adoption | PDF (157 KB) - Accelerating adoption