Organic Solar Cells Have Lower Environmental Impact

GetSolar Staff.

Wednesday, September 22nd 2010 09:00

Organic solar cells - or those that use carbon, rather than inorganic substances like silicon, to conduct electricity - require less energy to produce than their inorganic counterparts, new Rochester Institute of Technology research shows.

Researchers at the Rochester, New York university performed life-cycle analyses of both types of solar cell. While the environmental benefits of using solar power are well-known, little was understood about the energy consumed in solar modules' production, RIT doctoral candidate Annick Anctil said.

"A broader analysis [was] needed to better evaluate the overall effect of [organic solar cells'] production and use," she noted.

Anctil performed a detailed analysis of the energy used to make each component of an organic solar cell - and she calculated the "energy payback period" of both organic and inorganic cells.

That payback period was shorter for the organic cells, suggesting that organic solar components could be both cheaper than and environmentally superior to inorganic materials.

"The data produced [by Anctil's research] will help designers and potential manufacturers better assess how to use and improve [organic solar] technology and analyze its feasibility," faculty advisor Brian Landi said.

Solar-cell producers may make smarter strategic decisions thanks to the research performed at RIT - and the cost of going solar could be lowered, to boot.