Honda announced recently a full-scale entry into the solar energy market. It has gone as far as establishing a new division called Soltec, whose sole purpose is to tackle the endeavor.
Soltec will work on developing the next generation in thin-film solar technology. The films will comprised of a compound made of copper, indium, gallium and selenium (CIGS). Honda issued this statement:
[our] next-generation solar cell achieves a major reduction in the amount of energy consumed during the manufacturing process by approximately 50% compared to what is required to produce conventional crystal silicon solar cells. This makes the new solar cell more environmentally-friendly by reducing the amount of CO2 generated even from the production stage.
It is currently constructing a new facility to design and produce the cells.
Honda Soltec [via Mobility Today]
Solar power needs this kind of investment if it is going to reach the economic price point for consumers. Imagine on the construction site you have these solar powered honda generators instead of the gas ones now.
The only other problem technology-wise we need to get off fossil fuels is energy storage. Hydrogen is expensive and batteries are at their limit. Investment and leadership from the Fed Gov are needed to complete the shift.
The main problem with solar cells today is not the amount of GHG and CO2 emissions generated when producing or making the cells, but the fact that the cells are ridiculously inefficient. Almost all photovoltaic cells run at 14 – 16% energy conversion rate, which is already a ridiculously low number, and when combined with the fact that solar energy is terrible tempermental (look at the sun…) who would want to base their construction cite power grid on solar cells? If you’re wonder, photocells produce electricity at roughly 60 cents per KwH, while traditional power sources (coal, gas, nuclear, natural gas) produce from 5 to 50 cents per KwH.
Oh yeah, not to mention that by producing these CIGS solar cells, you’re using up precious indium, which is already a dwindling commodity in the market today because so many techboys and girls are out buying three LCD monitors a piece.
::end rant::
In the end, I am all for companies make a stand towards helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but they should be focusing on this like making every car they sell a hybrid, or putting out more electric cars (because biofuels, hydrogen, air power cars, whatever) just don’t really compare to the beauty of an electric car.
Jon,
I don’t think internal combustion engines where this efficient in 1900. Also the reason I made the point of saying we also need break-through in energy storage is because of the fact that the sun is on up for 12 hours a day etc. Biofuels are still carbon based fuels that spew CO2. Electric cars are the way to go but how do you store 300 miles of energy with out making it too heavy from the batteries
Since most of the above technologies are a few years off and we still have a few million combustion engines laying around why don’t we use Ethanol as a stepping stone? Not only does it’s production reduce C02 in the atmosphere (from photosynthesis) but it’s emmisions do not include the real ozone killer CO. It’s used all over the world but why not in the US? Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for electric cars and a Teslaonian utopia but like brklnsurfer said batteries suck and so do most of the processes that produce solar cells. Ethanol will power your generator all day and what fuel you have left can make you some wicked jungle juice in the evening. Everclear shots anyone?
My question is will the 2012 solar storms render solar powered cars inoperable? Is there any particular engine that would not be affected by the magnetism? Thanks for your coments!
What kind of engines will function during or after the 2012 solar storms? Thank-you, Steve