Wednesday, June 28, 2006

BP, Caltech Partner On "Game Changing" Photovoltaics

BP and the California Institute of Technology announced a major effort yesterday to create a multi-million dollar research program in solar technology. The energy firm and university said that they were targeting "game-changing" solar technology in an effort to produce solar cells, to make the cost of solar electricity more competitive and increase current efficiency levels. BP and Caltech said that the two organizations will explore a concept based on growing silicon based on nanorods, rather than ingots and wafers. The two believe that solar cells developed using nanorods will be more efficient than conventional solar cells. The initial program has a five year length, and will be headed by Dr. Nate Lewis and Dr. Harry Atwater at Caltech. BP is a major producer of oil and gas, and also operates a solar elecricity business, BP Solar.