We have been working on organic solar cells/flexible solar cells for more than 20 yrs now. But still it is in the developmental stage. Overall the solar energy consumption is less than 1%. Why is the phase very slow?
Please Read this - Heliatek achieves 12% organic solar cell efficiency http://optics.org/news/4/1/36 -- Heliatek says that thanks to OPV’s unique behaviour at high temperatures and low light conditions – when its performance either improves or remains stable – the 12% efficiency figure is equivalent to about 14% to 15% efficiency of traditional solar technologies such as crystalline silicon and thin film PV. Also see - .Flexible solar cell reaches 20.4% efficiency -- http://www.eetimes.com/design/smart-energy-design/4405415/Flexible-solar-cell-reaches-20-4--efficiency http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/144027-stanford-creates-flexible-high-efficiency-peel-and-stick-solar-cells. Flexible solar cell research --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flexible_solar_cell_research
It is good to keep a track of the latest info using the web and check .Wikipedia. Goggling gives good results.
Germany had 50% of its energy by Solar Last April. on a single day. - Solar electricity world record: Germany cranks half its power with PV - producing at 22 gigawatts http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/intelligent-energy/solar-electricity-world-record-germany-cranks-half-its-power-with-pv/16354
In California for more than six hours, solar was producing more power than any other renewable energy source in California. In August 2012 - 1,300 megawatts of power over a three-hour period of time: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=516142355095888&set=pb.100001003836883.-2207520000.1361598536&type=3&theater
Main problem is to get a SMART grid and distributed Solar Generation to get higher Percentage.
When many countries get interconnected with large HV DC Transmission Links without storage we will be able meet all the Power needs
Read the following http://www.go100percent.org/cms/
Read more at http://cleantechnica.com/2013/02/22/100-renewable-energy-becoming-the-new-normal/#SewaUFUMD0dMgEMf.99
Please visit Solar Energy India FB for info on India https://www.facebook.com/groups/388347794570992/
A good uncorrupted political will Must be there and the Present OIL and COAL producers and the business people will not allow the Solar Energy to come up quickly. To conclude -- https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=513123522064438&set=pb.100001003836883.-2207520000.1361600696&type=3&theater
Technical problems of system stability with highly varying Solar energy has to be solved by interlinking all countries around the world. More development in SMART grid higher efficient lower cost solar PV are to be developed. It is happening slow and steadily
CPV and CSP bring higher efficiency with some storage as well. When storage costs drop we can absorb more Solar in to the grid.
Level playing field must be given in giving subsidy like what is given to Coal and OIL fuel production and Generation. Renewables get very small percentage of the funding recived by fosile fuels and Nuclear Reactors!
Please feel free to post any questions or clarification you may have.