But technology entrepreneur, Vinod Khosla, has founded a company - PVT Solar - which he believes has found a solution that doubles the energy gain by attempting to harness that wasted heat.

PVT’s founders decided the normally wasted heat could be stored and used in various ways such as climate control and water heating.

It is like a marraige made in heaven. The coming together of both solar pv technology and solar thermal, which gather the sun’s energy in the form of heat.

This could be a great leap forward for the solar industry. And given that this solar power unit requires hardly any extra parts, it won't cost much to adapt.

Although this has not gone into major production, Mr. Khosla seems to be very excited about the company's prospects. Remarking on the systems ability to double the panels efficiency, Khosla said, "Now the economics make sense".

Although merely in its infancy as a company, Khosla added that PVT Solar was an investment with a short path to commercialization.

For more on the PVT solar power unit.

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