Sergey Brin and Larry Page invest in solar energy

Posted by Michael Kanellos

'Three years ago, investing in solar and alternative energy was
considered odd. A couple of massive hikes in the price of oil later,
and suddenly it's a status symbol.
Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page (along with brother Carl
Page) are investors in Nanosolar, which specializes in thin-film solar
cells, according to the company's Web site. These thin-film solar
cells are less efficient in harvesting the sun's energy than
traditional crystalline solar cells. Brin and Page actually invested
in the company a few years ago, but were lumped in with "prominent
individual investors."
However, these solar cells can be printed on sheets of plastic, which
can then be transparently integrated into roofs, walls and other
surfaces. Thus, more surface area can be covered. Traditional solar
cells are as decorative as an old-time satellite dish.
Thin-film technology is also improving. Other companies in this field
include Konarka.
Nanosolar has approximately 42 patents and also holds an exclusive
license to 15 patents from Sandia National Laboratories. Scientific
collaborators include Stanford professor Michael McGehee, who has
written extensively on photovoltaic technology, and the University of
California at Berkeley. '

http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-5749586-7.html
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