Australian-based Origin Energy is seeking partners to help develop and market its new Silver solar cell technology. Origin announced it had begun construction of a $20M solar power plant in South Australia to develop the Silver technology. The new solar cells cut the use of expensive silicon by up to 90%, significantly reducing costs. "The unique properties of Silver cells will also allow a wide range of consumer and industrial products to be powered by the sun," according to Origin's executive general manager, Andrew Stock. "In 2004, Origin will be seeking global technology and marketing partners to develop the full application potential of the unique Silver cell characteristics." The company expects the cells to be onto the market by 2005. The South Australian plant is designed to produce up to five mega watts of power/year initially and to expand to 25/year.
