Called the Sphelar, the cell shuns the traditional flat substrate photovoltaic design and opts for much more efficient shape – the sphere. While traditional flat solar cells are easy to design and produce, their main problem is that their efficiency relies on their relative position to the sun
This is a promising idea. But Solyndra attempted the same thing with their cylindrical solar power panels. But the plummeting cost of traditional PV solar power killed them as did their high cost of manufacture and installation. They could no longer compete. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen here.