Each of the four colors of Hana-Akari lamps are made out of four of these cells painted by the dye. While Sony hasn't given a release date yet, but said they have big plans for the technology. Imagine having a solar power generating wall that wasn't a mess of black photovoltaic panels. [Impress]

Like other solar materials, the hybrid version relies on light that frees electrons emitted from atoms. However, in the hybrid, electrons remain free much longer than before. In fact, it emits electrons in two different energy states—a singlet state and a triplet state. Electrons emitted in the singlet state remain free for a time that is comparable to other solar materials, but electrons in the triplet state stay free up to 7 million times longer. The new material is currently in the development stages, but Ohio State has enough faith in the project to set aside $100 million for the research team to develop a commercial product within the next five years. [Ohio State via Nano Techwire via CleanTechnica via Inhabitat]

The shape also offers less wind resistance than conventional flat panels, making them cheaper and easier to mount on roofs. These advantages ultimately reduce the cost of generating power from the sun, though Solyndra couldn't give a direct answer on how much.

Considering that everyone, from Google to the Vatican, is installing a solar roof these days, Solyndra's innovations could mean a serious boost for the industry. But what's with not actually giving figures? That seems a little... shady. [Technology Review via Dvice]

They vow to "do significantly better than 6.5% in the near future." Other scientists agree, saying that 10% efficiency is likely very soon. Others say phooey. University of Denver scientist Sean Shaheen calls efficiency estimates "notoriously unreliable," accusing scientists of tweaking the solar spectrum to make their results look good. Others say that these dual-layer plastic solar cells will be trickier to manufacture than the single-layer plastic cells that are being prototyped today.

These guys have big plans for the technology, but before they bring this tandem cell to market, they'll first use those single-layer plastic solar cells in portable battery chargers that they hope to put on the market next year. But those will have only 5% efficiency. The holy grail is to place plastic solar cells on roofs, which they say will require at least 7% efficiency to be cost effective. That's where these tandem layer solar cells with upwards of 10% efficiency could prove to be a breakthrough.

[Technology Review]

Go, Honda, go! Green is good these days and Honda wants to help save the environment by announcing its plans to start mass-producing solar cells for both residential and industrial use. The plant, which will be on the site of a car plant on the southwestern Japanese island of Kyushu, should be able to generate sales of about $40 million to $70 million and power about 8,000 households at its full annual capacity. The cells will be made of non-silicon compound materials that are more energy-efficient to manufacture—they're said to consume half as much energy and generate 50 percent less carbon dioxide during production.

Honda Says to Mass-Produce Solar Cells from 2007 [Reuters]