Solar3D recently acquired a solar installation business formally called Sunworks. See #72 on this list: solarpowerworldonline.com . The company now has significant positive revenues where the installation part of the business has 50 employees and is aggressively hiring.
Solar3D, Inc. is developing a breakthrough 3-dimensional solar cell technology to maximize the conversion of sunlight into electricity. Up to 30% of incident sunlight is currently reflected off the surface of conventional solar cells, and more is lost inside the solar cell materials. Inspired by light management techniques used in fiber optic devices, our innovative solar cell technology utilizes a
3-dimensional design to trap sunlight inside micro-photovoltaic structures where photons bounce around until they are converted into electrons. This next generation solar cell will be dramatically more efficient, resulting in a lower cost per watt that will make solar power affordable for the world.
The company’s analysis indicates that a typical 17% efficient solar cell performs more like a 5% efficient cell when light is shining 20 degrees from the side, such as during the morning and evening hours. The company estimates that its Solar3D cell can maintain its high 25% efficiency for a longer period of time and can generate 250% of the power output of conventional solar cells. This translates to an estimated 40% reduction in the payback period of a fully installed Solar3D panel array !!!
Solar3D Intellectual Property
1) Title: WIDE ANGLE THREE-DIMENSIONAL SOLAR CELLS
Pub. date: 29.08.2013
Appl. No: PCT/US2013/02691
Description: A three dimensional solar cell composed of a semiconductor body that has a substantially flat bottom surface, and shaped trenches formed in an arrayed manner along its top side. Thus, multiple pillars are thereby formed in the semiconductor body extending toward the top side of the semiconductor body. A light collecting material fills the shaped trenches along the top side of the semiconductor body and forms a substantially flat light receiving top surface parallel to the bottom surface of the semiconductor body. Each of at least some of the trenches are structured such that there exists at least one point on the substantially flat light receiving surface that if a light ray is incident on that point, the light ray, if remaining within the corresponding trench, as opposed to entering the semiconductor body, will be redirected upwards at least after a fourth reflection on neighboring pillars.
2) Title: THREE DIMENSIONAL SOLAR POWER SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF MAKING SAME
Pub. date: 26.04.2012
Appl. No: PCT/US2011/056647
Description: High efficiency three dimensional solar power systems are disclosed. One example solar power system includes light collectors and first and second photovoltaic diodes arranged to receive light from the light collector. The photovoltaic diodes are in spaced opposition to each other to receive reflected portions of light from each other.
Solar3D Contact Information
26 West Mission Avenue
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Tel: (805) 690-9000
Fax: (805) 456-0397
Email: info@solar3d.com
http://www.solar3d.com/ |
