Why solar? why thin film?

Output of Solar Modules: a-Si vs Mono c-Si
		In high temperature climates such as desert regions where the sun’s rays are its strongest, amorphous silicon clearly generates more energy.
		Amorphous based thin flim solar cells generate energy over a longer period throughout the day. During peak load hours of utillty plants when electricity rates peak, a-Si also outperforms crystalline based cells.
Thin Film is the Future Key Advantages of Thin Film:
Significantly lower energy consumed during production compared to poly-crystalline approach Thin Film modules can outperform crystalline based modules in extreme weather conditions such as dimmer light and higher temperature weather Transparent characteristics suitable for BIPV applications Amorphous silicon modules generate more electricity per unit of installed capacity than do crystalline silicon modules
Cautions on Crystalline Production Polysilicon production is complex, consumes a high amount of electricity, and has environmental impacts
“It takes 10 kg of polysilicon to produce a solar panel with a capacity of one kilowatt” “A factory must burn more than 40kg of coal to produce a crystalline based panel – one metre by 1.5 metres” “Almost 30 million tonnes of coal or more than 1% of the mainland’s output of coal last year, will be needed to keep the ovens of all the polysilicon plants hot” “Leshan is one of the handful of cities to have imported polysilicon production lines – using a handheld device - found more than 10 poisonous substances from ammonia to trichlorosilane - workplace rated highly hazardous” Original: (Stephen Chan, SCMP, September 10, 2009)