British scientists develop cheap solar technology

British scientists have developed an intelligent way to deliver affordable solar energy to the poor in developing countries living outside the power grid.

This is due to the invention of Eight19 at the Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge using solar cells based on printed plastics to develop solar cells. These batteries are particularly suitable for powering small lamps and cell phone chargers.

Printed plastic solar cell technology is based on the use of a large number of available and low cost organic semiconductors. They have a strong light absorption capacity (100 times that of silicon), absorption spectra can be harmonized with chemical compounds, and they precipitate in a dissolved environment, resulting in a lightweight, ultra-thin solar absorber that makes it useful for many other applications (including large-scale power generation) and very promising materials.

Today, researchers have combined solar energy and mobile phone service payment technology to create a "recharge" solar service that avoids the high cost of an ordinary solar installation. With the support of the charity Solar Aid, this technology is being tested in Kenya.

More than 1.6 billion people worldwide do not have access to grid power, and the kerosene lighting costs that many rely on are relatively high.

The new system, called IndiGo, allows users to obtain lighting in a less costly and safer way, and can also charge their mobile phones by using a calling card.