JAN 20

Kodak may be in the middle of some financial trouble -- it just filed for bankruptcy yesterday and has shut down almost all of its camera film production -- but they're looking at solar energy as a way to a fresh start.  The camera and film maker is hoping to use its already existing manufacturing processes to produce thin-film solar cells.

Kodak is working with Natcore Technology to develop and produce flexible, thin-film solar cells made of nanotubes that could match the efficiency of conventional silicon cells. Thin-film cells haven't made as much of a splash in the market yet mainly because of the efficiency lag between them and silicon cells, but thin-film is catching up.

If Kodak can make a major improvement in efficiency, they have two major advantages compared to other manufacturers:  cost and experience.  Kodak could use its existing and proven film production equipment to produce the solar cells, potentially cutting costs in half.

It will likely be tricky transition for the company, but we'll be interested to see if Kodak can make this work and improve on the thin-film technology available today.

via MIT Tech Review

Comments (8)

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written by Turbofroggy, January 21, 2012

I think this is great for Kodak to get into these types of technologies, although they should have started 5 years ago.
Another technology they should get into ASAP is large format lithium batteries, the kind used for EVs. Almost all the process equipment used to make films can be used to handle battery production.

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written by Juan Miguel Ruiz, January 21, 2012

Kodak just might be the company that makes the solar industry explode onto the mainstream. We need cheap and efficient panels, and we need them NOW.

Juan Miguel Ruiz
http://www.GreenJoyment.com

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smile
written by sarah, January 21, 2012

nice to see a company learn from its mistakes. They saw themselves as a camera and 35mm film company instead of a memory capturing company and lost that race as digital replaced film... a few years later digital cameras have basically been absorbed into cell phones marginalizing that aspect of the camera market too...but if Kodak looks at its core competency as the technical sheeting industry...hopefully this repositioning of vision can help foster a new area of solar.

too bad the uber sensitive chemicals used in film couldn't somehow be used in solar to make solar work in low light by changing the f stop.

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written by Stephen R. Morbley, January 22, 2012

The idea is brilliant! Kodak's era of photography is coming to an end. If their attempt to apply their technology to developement of solar energy the company may end up saving itself. Imagine the possibility of
Kodak's true purpose was to develope solar energy technology by becoming a leader in photography technology. Being an established company their show of keeping in business through producing a consumer and socially beneficial industry can't be looked down on.

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written by Stephen R. Morbley, January 22, 2012

Kodak should be spelled Ghandi. They are using the technology that established thie position in industry.
When their technology for photography is becoming obsolete they apply it to developing a positing in two
industries that are not quite out of their infancy (applying solar energy for appliance usage and nanotechnology)and providing them with a means to
develope. Kodak could save itself from extinction by
evolving into a new industry.

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Kodak should take a new tack, Low-rated comment [Show]

Kodak new direction
written by Yves Laurin, January 24, 2012

Too bad they waited so long.
Now that they have filled for bankruptcy they saw the light!
Along with the new direction, they need to do a big cleanup in the upper management as well as they where sleeping until they face extinction

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computer recycling
written by computer recycling, February 07, 2012

thin film sounds interesting as it would have a very low weight to surface area ratio. Potentially you might be able to make a solar powered airship where the surface skin doubles as a powerplant using technology similar to this (obviously conventional solar arrays would be too heavy for use in an airship).

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