German industrialists intend setting up a South African company to manufacture hi-tech solar energy panels developed by South African scientists. A German company has acquired the initial rights to make thinner and cheaper solar panels developed by local researchers led by University of Johannesburg (formerly RAU) physics professor Vivian Alberts, and goes into full production next March. These photovoltaic (PV) panels will generate electricity, as opposed to conventional solar panels that simply heat water directly. They will be 50% cheaper than their PV market competitors, and could revolutionise the use of renewable solar energy worldwide if the commercial production and application is successful.- Alberts told the Cape Town Press Club that the second licence to make the revolutionary new panels would likely go to a local company that would be set up this year. He said that even 2 or 3 of the super-thin panels, which each produce about 60 watts of electricity, could make a tremendous difference to people’s lives. - This would be enough to power a home’s lights, a television, and a computer. The new panels could particularly benefit 15 million poor people in South Africa who do not have electricity. Alberts said 30 % of the N$185 million technology development costs of the German company were being subsidised by the German government. The envisaged plant will produce 400,000 of the 60-watt panels to make up a production capacity of 25 MW a year. Exports to neighbouring countries like Namibia and Botswana are also considered.