Kopi Talk - Falling silicon prices making renewable energy a viable industry

By Amresh Gunasingham Dr Tony Tan presenting to Professor Joachim Luther a certificate marking the inauguration of the Solar Research Institute of Singapore at the National University of Singapore. -- ST PHOTO: SHAHRIYA YAHAYA THREE years ago, it cost US$300 (S$415) per kg to buy silicon, the base material used to make solar cells to convert sunlight into electricity. Today, silicon costs US$60 per kg and could become even cheaper in the future, potentially moving the nascent solar industry forward as a viable source of energy to meet the world's energy demands. This goal - to produce electricity from the sun more cheaply - will be a key focus for the $130 million Solar Research Institute of Singapore (Seris), which held its official opening at the National University of Singapore (NUS) yesterday. More than 70 researchers, housed at a 5,000 sq m facility, will work on projects that improve efficiency in converting sunlight into electricity, develop cheaper materials for photovoltaic cells and find ways to ramp up economies of scale. They will also work on how to integrate solar power into building structures. 'R&D on silicon solar cells is essential in order to optimise electricity generated from solar power, in particular to realise strong cost reductions (in energy bills),' said Professor Joachim Luther, chief executive officer of Seris. The move into the renewable energy sector is in line with Singapore's target of achieving economic growth in an environmentally sustainable manner, while overcoming a heavy reliance on fossil fuels, said Dr Tony Tan, chairman of the National Research Foundation.