New Solar Energy Process - Nirvana or Cold Fusion?

Claiming a breakthrough in renewable energy technology, scientists from MIT have announced a new, more efficient and less polluting way to make solar energy cost-effective. Promising almost unlimited power and the opportunity to disconnect from the electrical grid, the scientists have solved the problem of night time power generation by coming up with an electrolysis process that mimics photosynthesis. Using neutral pH water and commonly available (if platinum can be characterized in that fashion) metals, the new process can split water into its hydrogen and oxygen components more effectively than present electrolytic processes.

I hope it's true, but the hype reminds me of the promise of cold fusion a few years back. One problem that remains is the current inefficiency of solar cells, which still do not convert much of the sun's energy to power. Limited sunshine in places like West Virginia or northern Europe makes it unlikely that individual home solar energy units will be powering homes in the next 10 years, but we can hope. Perhaps Nanosolar's printed solar panels will be the cost-efficient solar collectors we've been hoping for.