Solar power comes down to earth -

Solar technology developed to power satellites in space will be adapted to Australia's sun-drenched lands in a $10 million deal.
United States company Spectrolab, a subsidiary of Boeing, will supply 500,000 solar cells to Australian company Solar Systems.
The cells, previously used for space applications, have been adapted to land-based use and are said to be three times more efficient than typical solar cells.
"The result is the world's first, full-scale, ultra-high efficiency photovoltaic generator," Environment Minister Ian Campbell said.
"It's a major shift in the technology and offers a new pathway for sustainable development."
Senator Campbell said Solar Systems had already trialled the solar energy technology at Hermannsburg in the Northern Territory.
It had upgraded one of its concentrating dishes from a capacity of 24kW to 35kW by replacing the existing silicon cells with the new solar technology.
The deal came about under the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate (AP6), to which the Australian government has contributed $25 million for renewable energy initiatives.
The AP6 renewable energy taskforce meets in Sydney this week.
© 2006 AAP