Swiss solar innovator wins Millennium Technology prize

[Studeo]

Swiss solar innovator wins Millennium Technology prize
Page last updated at 16:44 GMT, Wednesday, 9 June 2010 17:44 UK
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/10276652.stm

The inventor of a low-cost solar cell that could be used to build
electricity generating windows has been awarded this year's Millennium
Technology Prize.

Professor Michael Gratzel of the Lausanne Federal Technology Institute
received the €800,000 (£660,000) prize at a ceremony in Helsinki.

Professor Gratzel's innovation mimics the way plants turn light into energy.

Two British inventors also won prizes of €150,000 (£124,000) each.

The three shortlisted entries were all vying for the world's biggest
technology prize, which is awarded every other year by Finland's
Technology Academy.

Big honour

Professor Gratzel expressed his excitement to BBC News: "It was a
wonderful experience to win the grand prix, and of course a tremendous
honour".

"The constraint of solar energy has traditionally been its price.
'Gratzel cells' provide a more affordable way of harnessing solar
energy," said Dr Ainomaija Haarla, President of Technology Academy
Finland.

"Gratzel's innovation is likely to have an important role in low-cost,
large-scale solutions for renewable energy."

Explaining his inspiration, he said: "I was always intrigued by the
way plants capture sunlight and turn it into fuels like sugar.

"Natural photosynthesis was the inspiration, and our solar cell is the
only one that mimics the natural photosynthetic process."

Full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/10276652.stm

[grannyfranny100]

Studeo

Thank you for this uplifting news:"Professor Gratzel's innovation mimics the way plants turn light into energy." Nature is an inspiring source for wonderful solutions. I'm ready for an affordable consumer window version.

Thanks again,
grannyfranny

[tone3jaguar]

That's pretty cool. I would like to build a greenhouse with that glass and use the power to run the hydroponics pumps inside of the greenhouse.