Q: SOLAR IS EXPENSIVE: WHAT WILL DRIVE THE COST DOWN?

Compared to other alternative energies, like wind, solar power costs more per kilowatt hour. Silicon is scarce (and expensive) and silicon-based photovoltaics dominate ninety percent of the solar market, according to Jeff Nelson. Creating solar capturing-devices that don't require as many raw materials may be one way to lower costs. Jeff Nelson explains:
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Q: HOW EFFICIENT ARE THE CHEAPER, NEW MATERIALS?

The new materials that use less silicon are also less efficient. Jeff Nelson explains how nanotechnology has the potential to increase the efficiency of these materials.
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Q: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PHOTOVOLTAIC, CONCENTRATING SOLAR AND SOLAR THERMAL?
Solar energy can be harvested in a few different ways. Listen to an explanation of the differences between solar technologies. Jeff Nelson explains:
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Q: WHAT WILL SOLAR PANELS LOOK IN THE FUTURE?

The current solar cells are big and bulky. According to Travis Bradford, the next generation of solar panels may not be panels at all. Listen to Bradford explain the status of solar-capturing paints and solar shingles.
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Q: IS SOLAR POWER REALLY CLEAN?

What does it take to make the silicon wafers and photovoltaic cells? Are toxic materials involved? Do they require a lot of energy to produce? Jeff Nelson sounds off:
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Q: WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO MAKE SOLAR WIDELY-ADOPTED?

Jeff Nelson says that figuring out how to incorporate solar energy into a larger electrical system is a key challenge: think retro-fitting on an unprecedented scale, he says.
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Citing market trends, Travis Bradford says solar has already taken off:
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