This solar panel printer can make 33 feet of solar cells per minute

[madokie]

Whatever oil and gas true believers want to think, the world is doing this solar power thing. It’s getting cheaper and cheaper to make solar panels, and the panels are getting more and more effective. For example: A team in Australia just built a gigantic printer that spits out solar cells at a rate, Gizmodo reports, of about 33 feet every minute.

It’s not even particularly complicated technology, according to the researchers. Gizmodo writes:

[The printer system] utilizes only existing printer technology to embed polymer solar cells (also known as organic or plastic solar cells) in thin sheets of plastic or steel at a rate of ten meters per minute. “We’re using the same techniques that you would use if you were screen printing an image on to a T-Shirt,” project coordinator and University of Melbourne researcher Dr David Jones said in a press release.

This particular type of cell isn’t the most efficient, but it’s the type that lends itself to uses where you need a little flexibility — solar windows, bags, or tents, for instances. And now it’s also the easiest type to make. You could probably even print a solar-powered T-shirt that said “Eat it, oil.”

http://grist.org/list/this-solar-panel-printer-can-make-33-feet-of-solar-cells-per-minute/

[MADem]

1. Love it! nt

[madokie]

2. Same here

After I recently was made aware of and seen what the VA system is doing at our Veterans Center I'm encouraged.
We can do better and all this is proof positive

http://www.democraticunderground.com/112744386

[MADem]

3. Good old Rick Shinseki...!

I'm betting his solar covers on parking are going over better than his "cover change" when he was USA Chief of Staff. Poor Rick was the guy who signed the "beret change" into Army's uniform regs, that pissed off a ton of people. Then, to make matters worse, the damn berets in the uniform shops were "Made In China" which caused a shitfit, and all of those were tossed in favor of Made in USA ones!

Of course, Rick is where he is today because he was the one who told Congress and Porgie the truth about how many troops it would take to fight a bifurcated war in Iraq and the Stan. They were so pissed at him for going off script they couldn't even bother to send the appropriate cadre of civilian government brass to his retirement ceremony. He was punished for telling the truth. Fortunately, the current administration seems to prefer pesky truth tellers to kissass liars.

I am always very pleased when I see his name associated with the VA. He's a been there/done that kind of fellah; and he is doing a fine job in the position.

[pamela]

4. This is great news.

We're living and traveling in a motorhome and really want to get solar so we can boondock. We want wait a bit to make sure we like this lifestyle and this rig and then I think we'll do it. I'm also hoping solar will continue to come down in price and stories like this make me very hopeful.

[littlemissmartypants]

5. Who said time in the sun fries brains?

I see solar curlers and portable flat irons that work on embedded solar panels...screw the outlet and put little solar panels on bread to make toast, or on a special bag to keep your grilled cheese hot all day...possibilities endless. Where can I buy that shirt?

[Massacure]

6. What the heck does 33 feet mean?

Is that 33 square feet or 33 linear feet? If it is linear feet, how wide is it? 3000 inches? 30 inches? 0.03 inches?

[kristopher]

7. A centipede every 3 minutes maybe?

This Printer Spits Out 10 Meters of Solar Panel Every Minute
Australia is on the cusp of a solar energy revolution. First, a recent study suggests that the country could power its entire national domestic infrastructure using only solar (while slashing the price of home electricity by 70 percent). Now, the University of Melbourne has introduced a new organic PV cell printer that rolls out a functional binder page-sized sheet of solar panel every two seconds, making the production of all those cells cheaper and a whole lot faster.


http://gizmodo.com/this-printer-spits-out-10-meters-of-solar-panel-every-m-508966042