Alanna Ketler –  With the costs of solar power on the decline – prices have seen a staggering drop from around $40 per watt in 1977 to $0.74 per watt in 2013 – this remarkable technology has finally made its way into the mainstream. While this is great news for people in developed countries who want to make the transition over to cleaner sources of energy, it is even better news for the 1.3 billion people who are currently living without any electricity at all.

Printed solar cells are paper-thin, lightweight and extremely inexpensive to produce. The cells are also flexible, making their transportation virtually effortless, even to remote rural areas. “I’ve witnessed first-hand how the technology has enabled urban poor communities in India to access off-grid electricity,” says Scott Watkins of the Korean firm Kyung-In Synthetic. “Its success is due to its cost effectiveness and simplicity. A 10×10 solar cell film is enough to generate enough as much as 10-50 watts per square meter.” Continue reading →