Recently, while doing some research, I came across a fascinating company, Konarka Technologies. The company, based in Lowell, MA, is a developer of photovoltaic materials used to convert solar energy into electricity. It was founded in 2001, and has since been perfecting its product Power Plastic®.
Power Plastic® is truly the future of solar energy. It is a flexible and lightweight plastic material that is thin enough to be used for numerous purposes, ranging from small-scale to large-scale. For example, the new technology could be used as a renewable power source in cell phones, laptops, and traffic signals, as well as sailboats and even large buildings. Konarka classifies their product as the 3rd generation of solar technology, meaning that it costs less but is more efficient than technology that preceded it.
Power Plastic® has even more advantages in addition to those previously mentioned. According to Konarka’s website, this new product is unique because it can be used indoors or outdoors, given its capacity to create energy from a broader spectrum of light. It also is versatile enough to be incorporated into goods that people use on a daily basis. For instance, clothing or bags can be equipped with the Power Plastic® technology, and all one would need to do for a quick re-charge for personal devices is place them in a pocket or bag!
The future of Konarka looks promising. Just this month, they acquired a $5 million loan for job creation and manufacturing at their new facility, which was acquired from Polaroid and opened in October of 2008. They already have operations overseas, and continue to work toward universal renewable energy availability. For more information about what’s on the horizon for Konarka and their new product, Power Plastic®, please visit their website at www.konarka.com.
Source: All information retrieved from www.konarka.com.