New printed thin-film panels could deliver solar energy from just 99 cents per Watt.

US solar cell manufacturer Nanosolar announced it had shipped its first commercial panels amid claims it will become the "first solar manufacturer capable of profitably selling solar panels at as little as $.99/Watt".

In a post on the company's blog, CEO Martin Roscheisen said that Nanosolar had produced the world's first printed thin-film solar cell in a commercial panel product.

He said that the panels would deliver significant cost savings compared to existing solar cell technologies. He added that they also boast five times the electrical current of other thin-film panels, making system deployment easier.

The panels use a thin-film semiconductor, which is deposited on the panel using a printing process. Nanosolar claims this is quicker and more cost effective than more expensive high-vacuum processes that are commonly used.