Global Intellect

: Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.com
FREMONT, California — Solar photovoltaics make up a tiny percentage of the world’s power largely because they just cost too much. Burning fossil fuels remains cheaper than even the best solar panels. But Solyndra’s new thin-film technology could substantially cut the cost of manufacturing and installing solar electricity, perhaps reaching the cost of standard power within a few years.
The venture-backed company, which came out of stealth mode today, gave Wired.com access to their new whirring fab, installed in a former hard-drive factory.
Most of the equipment was designed in-house by Solyndra’s 500 employees and the aid of more than $600 million in venture capital.
“We’ve put a lot of effort into very sophisticated process control,” Kelly Truman, VP of business development told Wired.com. “We design and build all the critical equipment in the factory ourselves.”
Left: Solyndra’s solar modules enter the factory as simple glass tubes a […]

Original post by Alexis Madrigal