The Future of Solar Panels is Printing the Cells

These days, we can print virtually anything thanks to the advent of 3D printing. From synthetic food to organs to even guns, printing is taking over the world and has already begun the process of changing our lives forever. When it comes to solar, this innovative technology can also change everything. How will this affect the average person who wants in on the action, though, and will it actually be as beneficial as it seems? In this blog, we will look at just how fantastic this technology will be for the future of solar energy.

How They Were Made

Believe it or not, printing cells was done just like any other standard print job. Even wilder, the team that manufactured these cells did so using the same machine used to make wine labels. In other words, this is a simple process, even if it took a while to get here. The cells themselves are made up of multiple layers which are unified together. Once they are complete, the cells are fastened together parallel from each other. Once that’s done, the solar module is complete. The module itself is then sandwiched between plastic - the plastic is recyclable!

How Much This Costs

It’s fair to assume these modules would be extremely expensive and that the average person would have no real way of acquiring one. However, they’re actually less than A$10 per square inch, meaning that in 2-3 years they will become cost-competitive and most likely be available to anyone on the mainstream market. This means that by 2020, we could already be seeing these printable technologies readily available for consumer purchase.

The Ease of Installation

On top of the ease with which these modules are created, they are also extremely easy to install. Traditional solar panels require a great deal of work, are large, are heavy, and need some serious equipment to get the job done effectively and safely. The printable modules, on the other hand, only need simple household items: adhesive tapes, wires, and press-studs. This allows these panels to be installed at a much faster rate, which will also decrease the cost it takes to get this product affixed to a roof.

Who This Could Benefit the Most

While many people will probably want to get their hands on this new solar panel technology, there are some people in particular who it could benefit. Traditional solar panels are large and need a lot of roof space. On top of that, once placed on a roof, it’s not worth the price it takes to move it, making it a near-permanent fixture on the home. Because of this, people who live in smaller places like apartment complexes do not have the advantage of being able to rush out and install solar. With such a large apartment-dwelling population, it only makes sense to come up with alternatives, and this just might be the one that changes everything. Because these panels are placed with nothing more than tape and studs, they are easy to move, meaning someone in an apartment would have a much easier time asking their landlord permission to install one. When they move out, they’d be able to easily take it with them and wouldn’t change the structural integrity of the building. With this in mind, the environmental impacts could be massive. With a solution to the number of people in smaller living spaces not having access to solar power in sight, our goal of becoming a solar-powered world may finally be in sight.

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