Innovative Solar Power

Researchers at the University of Queensland in Australia are working on new solar cell technology that could power everything from cars to iPods. The technology uses molded plastic, which is smaller and cheaper than the silicon panels used today. This versatility could lend itself to powering a variety of different contraptions. The plastics that currently cover electronic devices such as cell phones could feasibly power those same devices with solar energy in the near future. According to Associate Professor Paul Meredith, the technology could be commercially available in as soon as three years. The research team, made up of scientists from Australia and the United States, recently received a $2 million grant to work on this project.