If you've been looking for a little variety beyond your average flat solar panel, a Japanese company may have just what you're looking for. A spherical solar cell has been created that is designed to capture light from any direction. The cells optimize the use of reflected and indirect light resulting in an efficiency rating of 20% — well above most flat photovoltaic technologies.

The process for creating the cells is incredibly efficient. Implementing a technique by which the melted silicon is subjected to free fall, the cells are formed naturally by microgravity. This limits the amount of raw materials wasted by the final product.

Application for this type of technology is varied. For one, such geometric cells do not require tracking to source sunlight. Standard photovoltaic cells often have to be sited for maximum exposure or mounted on electronic tracking devices to keep optimization in line with the sun's path. Since spherical cells capture light from all angles, this wouldn't be much of a problem. Additionally, the cells are flexible, which — as I mentioned earlier this week — is something both the military, private sector, and Bush Administration are interested in backing.

There's a whole bunch of solar jargon and other wonderful details over at the WorldChanging article; including a great interview with one of the inventors. While the world may becoming more flat, it's nice to see solar technology embracing a new shape.