Organic photovoltaic cell, being held by a researcher's hand. The advantages of organic photovoltaic cells include the low cost of the manufacturing technology, the low raw material consumption, the reduced weight, and the flexibility of the plastic substrates. Organic photovoltaic cells use conductive organic polymers or small organic molecules instead of the usual silicon semiconductor material. Like all photovoltaic cells, they absorb energy from sunlight and convert it into an electrical current.