Balloon-shaped solar cells

http://discovermagazine.com/2008/oct/19-powering-planet-with-sun-harnessing-balloons
Sometimes the best ideas in science are the simplest and often slip through the complex thought process many scientists go through when developing new ideas. These balloon-shaped solar cells are designed to concentrate light onto a focal point (thus allowing the solar cell to create more energy than it would when receiving normal, unfocused sunlight). Due to the simplicity of this design, costs can be considerably lower than a conventional solar cell field. Providing a cheaper alternative to current energy producing methods has been a constant battle for the field of renewable energy, and this new idea is on the right track.