Organic solar cells have their uses

When it comes to solar technology, and solar PV in particular, you will most likely come across extreme opinions. Some who dismiss it as costly and inefficient, others who see hope in technology advances.

Yet it is true that solar cell tech is costly to mass-produce, especially at the scale we would require to replace fossil fuels. However,a great deal of international research is aimed at developing solar cells made up of organic (carbon-compound based) semiconductors. Although their performance is still considerably lower than that of cells based on crystalline silicon (around 5% efficiency as compared with 15% for silicon cells), they present numerous advantages. Unlike crystalline silicon, which has to be produced at very high temperatures, they can be manufactured cheaply with low energy cost and environmental impact.

To better understand the energy and environmental benefits and detriments of solar power, a research team from Rochester Institute of Technology has conducted one of the first life-cycle assessments of organic solar cells. The study found that the embodied energy -- or the total energy required to make a product -- is less for organic solar cells compared with conventional inorganic devices.

The study sought to calculate the total energy use and environmental impact of the material collection, fabrication, mass production and use of organic solar cells through a comprehensive life-cycle assessment of the technology.The team found that when compared to inorganic cells, the energy payback time for organic solar cells was lower.

Organic solar cells are not intended to compete with silicon, but rather to be used for specific applications, such as packaging, clothing, flexible screens, and recharging cell phones and laptops. In the longer term, they could make a significant contribution to the photovoltaic conversion of solar energy, if there is major investment in research into new, more efficient and stable materials. And that, the critics will say, is the crux of the issue - technology advances!