IBM set to unveil new cost-effective solar cell

SAN DIEGO — Combining high-tech semiconductor engineering with a simple staple of kids play, IBM Corp. on Thursday plans to unveil new technology it claims can squeeze more juice out of solar electric systems and significantly reduce their cost.

At a technology conference here, IBM researchers plan to show off a new type of so-called "concentrator photovoltaic cell" that uses a large lens to focus the sun's power on the cell, much like a child might use the sun and a magnifying glass to burn a hole in a leaf.

IBM claims its technology can boost by five-fold the electric power density generated by a typical solar cell today. As a result, researchers say, it could take substantially less equipment - and in turn, substantially less money - to build solar electric systems in the near future.

"The idea is that you use a smaller photovoltaic cell ... and a big lens to focus (sunlight) on to it," said IBM researcher Supratik Guha.

Concentrator photovoltaic cells aren't exactly new. Some versions have been around since the 1970s.

But what IBM claims it has solved is one of the biggest problems plaguing concentrator technology - how to keep the photovoltaic cells cool enough so they literally aren't fried and destroyed by intensely magnified sunlight.

"When you concentrate so much light on photovoltaic chips, they get real hot," Guha said. "For them to be practical, you need to reduce the heat." In tests, IBM researchers melted stainless steel using solar concentrators, he added.

Developed at its labs in New York, IBM's technology relies on water and a special liquid metal surface to take excess heat away from photovoltaic cells. In tests, IBM researchers have been able to reduce the heat of concentrator solar cells from nearly 3,000 degrees to about 185 degrees.

The solar cell technology stems from IBM's work in figuring out ways to cool computer chips. Earlier this month, it rolled out high-end computers - powered by processors designed by engineers in IBM's Austin, Texas labs - that are cooled using water.

"This is a natural sort of step for us," said IBM spokesman Steven Tomasco.

While IBM has no intention of manufacturing solar cells itself, it does hope to license its technology - and potentially, some of its lens technology as well - to solar equipment companies, Guha said.

IBM is one of a growing number of semiconductor industry companies pushing into the solar business. Along the way, they're bringing technology advancements to an industry that has struggled in the past.

Both solar and semiconductor industries are similar in that they rely on silicon, integrated circuits and precise manufacturing techniques.

Semiconductor equipment maker Applied Materials Corp., which has major operations in Austin, is in the midst of a major expansion into the solar and photovoltaic markets.

Intel Corp., the world's biggest semiconductor maker, also is exploring investments in the solar business.

Bob Keefe is a west coast correspondent for Cox Newspapers.