Solar energy becomes commonplace. It is of what lets think the unveiling of the plant of photovoltaic cells of Konarka, in the Massachusetts (United States). An ancient photographic plant of films given up by Polaroid before being re-conditioned to produce every year thousand megawatts of plastic solar cells. Because, contrary to most technologies produced as a whole, the cells of Konarka will be made from a technique of printing and not from the expensive engraving of plain round flat cakes of silicon.

Not less than ten million square metres will take out every year of the plant. These flexible cells should be fast included into bags, umbrellas for restaurants and all kinds of objects capable of being of benefit of to them mechanical properties. They will be commercialised in the whole range of colours.

After three years of tests of a pilot plant, the starting of the production of the plant of Lowell lets in electrical solar energy into a new epoch. Because the life of the cells of Konarka does not exceed any years, against twenty-thirty years for the conventional solar panels. Besides, output will be very weak (3 % - 5 %) or three - five times less than most conventional cells the cost of manufacture of which is ten times as high on the other hand. The products of Konarka should be also produced, under licence, in Europe. Three years ago, the business company had acquired research activities on the plastic solar cells of the giant Siemens. Konarka also established a partnership with FRENCH ELECTRICITY COMPANY five years ago.

The researchers of Konarka, driven by Alan Heeger, Nobel de Physique 2000 for its jobs on polymers drivers, hope to double very fast the output of their cells to make them competitive with other modes of production of electricity. In the meantime solar energy has already crossed the doors of the consumer society and of the reign of the disposable product. In when a course of study of recycling?