Results for tag: "Alternative Solar"

The alternative solar market refers to the diverse array of solar technologies and business approaches that exist alongside the mainstream monocrystalline and polycrystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) panels. This sector includes innovations such as thin-film solar cells, which are made from materials like cadmium telluride (CdTe) or copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS); organic photovoltaic cells (OPV), which are built with carbon-based materials; and dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC), which mimic the natural process of photosynthesis. Another segment of the alternative solar market focuses on solar thermal technology, which captures and utilizes the heat from sunlight rather than converting light directly into electricity. Moreover, the alternative market features companies emphasizing building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), where solar elements are integrated directly into building materials, and concentrated solar power (CSP), which uses mirrors or lenses to concentrate a large area of sunlight onto a small area to produce steam for electricity generation. These technologies cater to niche applications, offer cost or functional advantages, and attempt to reduce the reliance on rare or toxic materials. Several notable companies in the alternative solar market include First Solar, which specializes in manufacturing CdTe-based thin-film solar modules; SunPower, which produces high-efficiency solar panels and also provides BIPV solutions; Nanosolar and Global Solar Energy, which had been involved in developing CIGS thin-film technology; and Show Less Read more