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Sun Power

July 13, 2011 By: Admin Category: Solar Power

Using the Sun for Power – How It Works

Executive Summary about Sun Power by Richard Chapo

sun power Sun Power

Generating electricity from the sun is all about converting sunlight into power. The technology behind solar systems is known as photovoltaic technology. Essentially, this technology involves using sunlight to create a chemical reaction. This process creates a direct current of electricity. The electricity is then converted to usable alternating current electricity and stored in a battery or fed into a utility grid system.

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Photovoltaic Cells

December 21, 2009 By: Admin Category: Solar Cells

Glitter-sized Solar Photovoltaics Produce Competitive Results


Adventures in microsolar supported by microelectronics and MEMS techniques

photovoltaic cells micro Photovoltaic Cells

Representative thin crystalline-silicon photovoltaic cells – these are from 14 to 20 micrometers thick and 0.25 to 1 millimeter across.

Sandia National Laboratories scientists have developed tiny glitter-sized photovoltaic cells that could revolutionize the way solar energy is collected and used.

The tiny cells could turn a person into a walking solar battery charger if they were fastened to flexible substrates molded around unusual shapes, such as clothing.

The solar particles, fabricated of crystalline silicon, hold the potential for a variety of new applications. They are expected eventually to be less expensive and have greater efficiencies than current photovoltaic collectors that are pieced together with 6-inch- square solar wafers.

The cells are fabricated using microelectronic and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) techniques common to today’s electronic foundries.

Sandia lead investigator Greg Nielson said the research team has identified more than 20 benefits of scale for its microphotovoltaic cells. These include new applications, improved performance, potential for reduced costs and higher efficiencies.

“Eventually units could be mass-produced and wrapped around unusual shapes for building-integrated solar, tents and maybe even clothing,” he said. This would make it possible for hunters, hikers or military personnel in the field to recharge batteries for phones, cameras and other electronic devices as they walk or rest.

cells photovoltaic nielson Photovoltaic Cells

Sandia project lead Greg Nielson holds a solar cell test prototype with a microscale lens array fastened above it. Together, the cell and lens help create a concentrated photovoltaic unit.

Even better, such microengineered panels could have circuits imprinted that would help perform other functions customarily left to large-scale construction with its attendant need for field construction design and permits.

Said Sandia field engineer Vipin Gupta, “Photovoltaic modules made from these microsized cells for the rooftops of homes and warehouses could have intelligent controls, inverters and even storage built in at the chip level. Such an integrated module could greatly simplify the cumbersome design, bid, permit and grid integration process that our solar technical assistance teams see in the field all the time.”

For large-scale power generation, said Sandia researcher Murat Okandan, “One of the biggest scale benefits is a significant reduction in manufacturing and installation costs compared with current PV techniques.”

Part of the potential cost reduction comes about because microcells require relatively little material to form well-controlled and highly efficient devices.

From 14 to 20 micrometers thick (a human hair is approximately 70 micrometers thick), they are 10 times thinner than conventional 6-inch-by-6-inch brick-sized cells, yet perform at about the same efficiency.

100 times less silicon generates same amount of electricity

“So they use 100 times less silicon to generate the same amount of electricity,” said Okandan. “Since they are much smaller and have fewer mechanical deformations for a given environment than the conventional cells, they may also be more reliable over the long term.”

Another manufacturing convenience is that the cells, because they are only hundreds of micrometers in diameter, can be fabricated from commercial wafers of any size, including today’s 300-millimeter (12-inch) diameter wafers and future 450-millimeter (18-inch) wafers. Further, if one cell proves defective in manufacture, the rest still can be harvested, while if a brick-sized unit goes bad, the entire wafer may be unusable. Also, brick-sized units fabricated larger than the conventional 6-inch-by-6-inch cross section to take advantage of larger wafer size would require thicker power lines to harvest the increased power, creating more cost and possibly shading the wafer. That problem does not exist with the small-cell approach and its individualized wiring.

photovoltaic cell group1 Photovoltaic Cells

From left to right, Sandia researchers Murat OKandan, Greg Nielson, and Jose Luis Cruz-Campa, hold samples containing arrays of microsolar cells.

Other unique features are available because the cells are so small. “The shade tolerance of our units to overhead obstructions is better than conventional PV panels,” said Nielson, “because portions of our units not in shade will keep sending out electricity where a partially shaded conventional panel may turn off entirely.”

Because flexible substrates can be easily fabricated, high-efficiency PV for ubiquitous solar power becomes more feasible, said Okandan.

A commercial move to microscale PV cells would be a dramatic change from conventional silicon PV modules composed of arrays of 6-inch-by-6-inch wafers. However, by bringing in techniques normally used in MEMS, electronics and the light-emitting diode (LED) industries (for additional work involving gallium arsenide instead of silicon), the change to small cells should be relatively straightforward, Gupta said.

Each cell is formed on silicon wafers, etched and then released inexpensively in hexagonal shapes, with electrical contacts prefabricated on each piece, by borrowing techniques from integrated circuits and MEMS.

Offering a run for their money to conventional large wafers of crystalline silicon, electricity presently can be harvested from the Sandia-created cells with 14.9 percent efficiency. Off-the-shelf commercial modules range from 13 to 20 percent efficient.

A widely used commercial tool called a pick-and-place machine — the current standard for the mass assembly of electronics — can place up to 130,000 pieces of glitter per hour at electrical contact points preestablished on the substrate; the placement takes place at cooler temperatures. The cost is approximately one-tenth of a cent per piece with the number of cells per module determined by the level of optical concentration and the size of the die, likely to be in the 10,000 to 50,000 cell per square meter range. An alternate technology, still at the lab-bench stage, involves self-assembly of the parts at even lower costs.

Solar concentrators — low-cost, prefabricated, optically efficient microlens arrays — can be placed directly over each glitter-sized cell to increase the number of photons arriving to be converted via the photovoltaic effect into electrons. The small cell size means that cheaper and more efficient short focal length microlens arrays can be fabricated for this purpose.

High-voltage output is possible directly from the modules because of the large number of cells in the array. This should reduce costs associated with wiring, due to reduced resistive losses at higher voltages.

Other possible applications for the technology include satellites and remote sensing.

The project combines expertise from Sandia’s Microsystems Center; Photovoltaics and Grid Integration Group; the Materials, Devices, and Energy Technologies Group; and the National Renewable Energy Lab’s Concentrating Photovoltaics Group.

Involved in the process, in addition to Nielson, Okandan and Gupta, are Jose Luis Cruz-Campa, Paul Resnick, Tammy Pluym, Peggy Clews, Carlos Sanchez, Bill Sweatt, Tony Lentine, Anton Filatov, Mike Sinclair, Mark Overberg, Jeff Nelson, Jennifer Granata, Craig Carmignani, Rick Kemp, Connie Stewart, Jonathan Wierer,

George Wang, Jerry Simmons, Jason Strauch, Judith Lavin and Mark Wanlass (NREL).

The work is supported by DOE’s Solar Energy Technology Program and Sandia’s Laboratory Directed Research & Development program, and has been presented at four technical conferences this year.

The ability of light to produce electrons, and thus electricity, has been known for more than a hundred years.

[Via]

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Outdoor Solar Lights

December 01, 2009 By: Admin Category: Solar Light

Outdoor Solar Lights Explained

outdoor solar lights Outdoor Solar LightsOutdoor solar lights uses the identical action to generate power as the solar panels on your ceiling (or that you could set up on your ceiling, if you selected to). Essentially, it applies photovoltaic (PV) cells, which accumulate and switch solar energy into electrical energy. The PV cells apply semiconducting materials to engage the sun’s light, which interacts with the silicon and another components to produce electrical energy. The electrical energy runs over cables which power the battery, which in go powers the light. This is an highly simple explanation, but it will present you the common idea of how solar cells play. They can only make electrical energy from direct sunshine, which is why solar lighting wants a battery in order to be able to light up the dark.

So that the batteries to keep a constant charge, the solar light fixture should be in a position that meets full sunshine for almost of the daylight. If it just gets partial sunlight, because it’s barred by trees or other construction, or because your area has much of cloudy conditions, the batteries will run out earlier, and your fixture will supply light for a lower amount of time. Most outdoor solar lights fixtures own a backup power system which applies rechargeable batteries. Solar lights fixtures which apply a small amount of electrical energy frequently apply small AA Ni-Cad or NiMh batteries. But more strong solar lights fixtures (like head lights) apply a covered lead acid battery.

Photo detectors that automatically evaluate light degrees (like the kind that tells your photographic camera when to apply its flash) are constructed into the solar lights fixtures. They monitor light degrees and turn the fixture off at morning and on at nightfall. But get sure there are no artificial light sources (like a street lights or head light) that may contribute a wrong reading and forbid the light from turning on.

Outdoor solar lights usually utilizes LED bulbs. They apply less power than incandescent bulbs and, with a lifetime of around 20 years, are much longer-lasting. Until lately, solar lights overall has not been as bright as lighting powered straight by direct current electrical energy. But the earliest super bright LEDs can at present illuminate as well as halogen bulbs.

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Solar Technologies

November 27, 2009 By: Admin Category: General

New Solar Technology

solar panel technology Solar Technologies

Solar technologies is now highly developed, with some progress is being developed to be used every day.

Below 10 Solar Technologies to note:Pyron Solar Triad Solar Technologies

  1. Water Heating Solar Panel: Pyron Solar Triad uses a special design, short focal-length, lens in the acrylic concentration to reflect and accept the light, effectively concentrate 6.500 solar power in the form of a small light. The second lens capture light and focus on PV cells. According to related companies, HE Optics System produces 800 times more energy than the silicon solar cells.
  2. Home Solar to Hydrogen Storage: An MIT professor Daniel Nocera, build a company this year to market a technology that can split water and store solar energy. The key of this company is to achieve a breakthrough solar energy to make solar power cheaper.
    “The idea is to use solar panels to power the electrolyzer to produce hydrogen which would be stored in tanks. When people need electricity, the stored hydrogen would put through a fuel cell.”
  3. Solar panel roof that can be printed and painted: If solar power is easy to install as to paint your roof with sunlight resistant paint, it will lower the standard for the installation of solar power at home. This technology called silicon ink, and according to the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, solar cells showed 18% energy savings.Paintable Solar Panels Solar Technologies
  4. Large Panel Solar Film: SunFab ™ system uses silicon thin film technology to market the largest and most powerful panels in the world and combines inexpensive material.sunfab system Solar Technologies
  5. Organic Solar Concentrators: Engineers at MIT have created a method to transform glass into a high-tech solar concentrator, using color glass to collect and emit light which is usually missing from the panel surface. This technology can create a building for use with glass window film to gather strength. Other companies, GreenSun, has developed a panel of light color where it catch the other parts of the spectrum of the sun, and does not require direct sunlight to work.
  6. Space Based Solar: Japanese are developing a giant space station with solar power generators to transmit solar power to earth from 36.000 km above the earth within the next 30 years. The Japanese Government supports $ 21 billion project, which includes a space station solar power with solar panels cubical 4km, save electric energy of 1 gigawatt, enough for 300,000 homes in Tokyo.
  7. Solar Roads: Solar Roadways concept, will make a way to use glass panels to collect and distribute solar energy to illuminate the light at night and hot in winter, with enough remaining energy to light homes and businesses. Discoverer, Scott Brusaw, estimating each mile of solar panels can be illuminated 500 houses, and is expected to make a panel for 12×12 need cost about $ 5,000.solar roadways Solar Technologies
  8. SunCatcher: Stirling Energy System, contains a solar concentrator in the bowl structure supported by a convex mirror, can be used in Arizona soon. SunCatcher using glass system fitted with a parabolic bowl for concentrating solar power in high-efficiency Stirling engine, with each bowl produces 25.000 watts.sun catchers Solar Technologies
  9. Solar Nanotechnology: Research workers at McMaster University in Ontario has developed a light-absorbing nanowires formed of excellent photovoltaic materials in thin but durable carbon-nanotube fabric. They also use small particles in a flexible polyster film where can lead to solar cells that are both flexible and cheaper than today’s solar cells.
  10. Grid Ready for Solar: Andalay AC solar energy panels, made with Akeena Solar technology, integrate the racking, wiring and electrical grounding components to the panel. According to the company, this will against the damage, a lot of money in saving for 30 year lifetime. Andalay AC solar energy panels produce a safe AC power, and can be a safe installation process for users.

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Solar Tubes

November 26, 2009 By: Admin Category: Solar Light

Solar Light Tubes


solar tubes Solar Tubes

Initial concept of light tubes developed by the ancient Egyptians, namely by direct use of natural light tubes with reflective material. This is the concept of the oldest and most widespread type of natural lighting of interior space.

Light tubes are also known as “tubular skylight”, “SunScope” or “Tubular Daylighting Device” allow natural light into the darkened interior room of buildings and houses. The people enjoy the natural lighting provided by skylights. However, skylights are often not evenly distribute the light, is the loss of a significant source of energy, and UV light can cause damage to the carpet and furniture. Light tubes, on the other hand, using the sun for lighting interiors without the shortcomings associated with conventional skylights. To prevent the danger of ultraviolet radiation (UV) from the carpet and furniture fading, UV inhibitors formed a dome roof on most models. Another bonus when choosing light tubes is that they provide far more heat slightly, as did the standard skylights. Because of the lack of acceptance of this heat, tubular skylights to save money on air conditioning bills during hot months.

Taking advantage of free sunlight as much as possible, the pipe hole collect sunlight from the roof dome light collector consists of an acrylic lens, bounce it to the bottom of a tube with a highly reflective interior coating, to pull the lens cap is similar to conventional recessed lighting equipment and diffuse sun light evenly throughout the interior rooms. The tube can be bent and adapted to drive around the garret or ceiling obstructions with small loss of light transmitting and can often be installed in less than three hours. Not like the ceiling of need roof to the ceiling of the timber-framed shaft and covered with drywall or wood panels, and the need for structural modifications, so installation is simple and relatively inexpensive.

solar spot Solar Tubes

Roof mounted dome made of high quality acrylic resin specially formulated to enhance the impact strength, chemical, weather resistance and high clarity.

Light tubes can be installed on almost all types of roof materials, including wood and asphalt shingles, concrete and ceramics, and metals. Thanks to a highly reflective coating on the rod, the tube can work efficiently from sunrise to sunset.

Most of the producers of glass tubular solar roof offers a 10-year warranty against defects in materials and post-installation cracks or discoloration. Tubes solar installation contractors generally offer a 2-3 year warranty for the installation of weatherproofing and storm protection.

The average size of the tubular skylight ranges between 10 and 21 inches (254 and 533 mm), diameter, which effectively light of 100-600 square feet (30,48-182,88 meters), interior space. The main factor in choosing a general measure of the distance between the roof rafters and / or ceiling beams.

Prices range from around $ 171.00 to $ 423.00. Installing a solar tube usually cost between $ 500 and $ 800. Both depend on the size of tubes and features installed.

Light tube options include:

  • Dimmers which allows the natural lighting level of a room that will turn up or down according to demand.
  • Light kit for night time lighting.
  • Ventilation fan kit

Energy-efficient light tubes is an important part of the house and environmentally friendly buildings. Natural light effects on your physical, emotional and psychological well known as the rooms benefit from natural sunlight free will positively impact our environment for future generations. They are environmentally-friendly way to naturally brighten every room, a smart alternative to skylights and artificial lighting.

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Solar Cell

November 24, 2009 By: Admin Category: Solar Cells

What Does Solar Cell Mean?

You may have seen a calculator that has a solar cell? calculator that does not need batteries, and in some cases do not even have the off button. As long as you have enough light, so the calculator can be on at any time and forever. You may have seen larger solar panels, such as in housing or traffic lights, haven’t you? In this article I will review how solar cell work so it can deliver the energy and drive an electronic device.

Today the demand for electricity has become a major requirement in all corners. The presence of power plants sometimes do not solve the need for electricity especially in remote areas where the terrain is always an excuse. Here an alternative energy that can be easily found in nature and can be used as an alternative free energy replacing conventional electricity, because it can turn on household electronics such as televisions, radios and lights.
solar cell p n Solar Cell
Solar cells made from pieces of a very small silicon coated with special chemicals to form the basis of solar cells. Solar cells generally have a minimum thickness of 0.3 mm is made from semiconductor materials incision with positive and negative poles. Each solar cell produces usually voltage 0.5 volts. Solar cells is an active element (semiconductor) that utilizes photovoltaic effect to transform solar energy into electrical energy.

solar cell diagram Solar Cell

Solar cells contain a connection (junction) between two thin layers made of semiconductor materials, each of which is known as a semiconductor type “P” (positive) and semiconductor type “N” (negative).

N-type semiconductor made of silicon crystals and there are also some other materials (typically phosphorus) within the limits that these materials can provide an excess of free electrons.

Electrons are sub atomic particles are negatively charged, so that the silicon alloy in this case known as N-type semiconductor (Negative). P-type semiconductor made of silicon crystal in which there is a small amount of other material (typically boron) which caused the shortage of material free electrons. Lack or loss of electrons is called a hole. Because there is no or lack of electrons electrically negative charged then the silicon alloys in this case as a semiconductor type-P (Positive).

Composition of a solar cell, the same as a diode, consisting of two layers, called PN junction. PN junction obtained by staining a pure semiconductor silicon (valence 4) with the impurity valence 3 on the left side, and one on the right impurity stained with valence 5.
 Solar Cell

solar1 labels Solar Cell

The effect of the electric field in a PV cell

 Solar Cell

solar2 labels Solar Cell

Operation of a PV cell

 Solar Cell

solar3 labels Solar Cell

Basic structure of a generic silicon PV cell

Thus formed on the left side that is not pure silicon again and called P type silicon, while the right side is called silicon type N. In the pure silicon there are two kinds of electrical charge carriers are balanced. Positive electric charge carriers called holes, while the negative are called electrons. After a desecration process, in the P type silicon formed holes (positive charge carriers) in a very large number compared with the electron. Therefore, in the P type silicon holes are majority charge carriers, while the electrons are minority carriers. Conversely, in the N type silicon is formed of electrons in a very large number so-called majority carriers, and holes called minority carriers.

In the silicon rod there was interaction between the P and the N. Therefore called the PN junction. When present, the P associated with the positive pole of a battery, while the negative polar associated with the N, then there is a relationship called “forward bias”.

Under forward bias, electrical currents arise in a series due to both types of charge carriers. So the electric current flowing in the PN junction is caused by the movement of electron and the movement of holes. An electric current is flowing in the direction of holes movement, but opposite direction with the movement of electrons. Just to further explain, electrons moving in the conductor material can lead to electrical energy. And electrical energy is called as an electric current that flows in the opposite direction to the movement of electrons.

But, if the P associated with negative pole of batteries and the N associated with positive pole, then now formed a relationship called “reverse bias”. In these circumstances, the hole (positive charge carriers) can be connected directly to the positive pole, while the electrons are also directly to the positive pole. So, clearly in the PN junction there is no movement of majority charge carriers either the holes or electrons. Meanwhile, the minority charge carriers (electrons) in the part P moves trying to reach the positive pole of the batteries. Similarly, the minority charge carriers (holes) in the N also moved to reach the negative pole. Therefore, in a state of reverse bias, in the PN junction there is also output current even in very small amounts (micro amperes). This current is often called the reverse saturation current or leakage current.

.
Anything interesting in reverse bias. When the temperature of PN junction raised they will be able to enlarge leakage current. Means that if given the energy (heat), the minority charge carriers in the PN junction grows. Because the light is one form of energy, so if there is light that hit a PN junction may also produce enough energy to generate charge carriers. This symptoms are called photoconductive. Based on the photoconductive symptoms made of photodiode electronic components from PN junction.

In reverse bias, with increasing intensity of light that hit photodiode can increase the level of leakage current. Leakage currents can also be enlarged by increasing the battery voltage (reverse voltage), but the addition of leakage currents were not significant. When the batteries in the reverse bias circuit is removed and replaced with a load of resistance, the provision of light that can cause charge carriers both holes and electrons. If the illumination light is increased, current output was greater. Such symptoms are called photovoltaic. Light can provide enough energy to enlarge the number of holes in the P and the number of electrons on the N. Based on the symptoms of this photovoltaic electronic components can be created photovoltaic cell. Because usually the sun as a source of light, the photovoltaic cell is also called the solar cell (solar cells) or a solar energy converter.
So the solar cell is essentially a large photo diode and designed by referring to the photovoltaic symptoms so that could produce the greatest possible power. P type silicon is the very thin surface layer so that light can penetrate directly reach the junction. Part P is given ring-shaped nickel layer, as a positive output terminal. Under the P is the N type that is coated with nickel as well as the negative output terminal.

To obtain a large enough power required much of solar cells. Usually, solar cells arranged form the shape of the panel, and is called the photovoltaic panels (PV). PV as a source of electric power was first used in satellites. Then PV as an energy source for cars, so there are solar electric car. Now, in foreign countries, PV has started to be used as a roof or wall of the house. Sanyo has made even a semi-transparent PV that can be used as a substitute for glass.

After getting the output of the solar cell is a direct electrical current can be used to load utilized. But also the electric current can be used as a charge stored by the battery to be used when needed, especially at night because there was no sun.

If the solar cell is used for storage into the battery, then the resulting voltage magnitude must be above the battery specification. For example the battery used is 12 volts, the voltage produced by solar cell must be above 12 volts in order to perform charging.

We recommend that before carrying out the charging battery should be empty because the incoming flow will be filled with the maximum. The unit capacity of a battery is the Ampere-hour (Ah) and these characteristics are usually found on the label of a battery. For example a battery with 10 Ah capacity will fill up for 10 hours with the solar cell output currents of 1 Ampere.

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Solar Panel Project

September 12, 2009 By: Admin Category: Solar Panel

A Project on Solar Panels To Educate Youngsters About The Energy Crises


solar panel project Solar Panel Project

Choosing the right science project for young people to do should include the concept of helping them become more involved in today’s important global issues. A science project on solar panels could be just the thing for them to gain a better understanding of how the energy crisis is affecting us and what they can do about it.

The world as we know it today has undergone drastic changes in the last few decades. Consider the past one hundred years of industry and the damaging effects this has played on the environment. Our lakes, oceans, and rivers are in a pitiable state. The very air that we breathe is infused with pollutants that make us sick. Natural disasters are becoming more occurent and destroy millions in property while killing hundreds of lives each year. The energy sources that have provided the power to fuel so-called economic and technological development and progress have taken their toll on our fragile environment. And the younger and future generations are the ones who are going to pay for the follies of the older generations who thoughtlessly abused our natural resources and the environment.

Teach Your Pupils This School Science Project

It has come to a point that the very survival of the human race is being questioned as being endangered in the coming years. The abuse of Mother Nature and her bounty has led to massive pollution throughout the globe. The biggest impact has been those of fossil fuels polluting, not only the atmosphere but, the water and other resources that maintain our survival. The mining of such fuels causes irreversible damage to the nearby environment.

They are a probable contributor to global warming, which threatens to melt the polar ice caps that could lead uncontrollable floods. The sulphur oxide emissions produced by fossil fuels cause harmful acid rain. Because fossil fuels cannot be recycled, they will eventually run out. The fact that our fossil fuel resources are fast depleting is a serious issue which we will have to face or else we can no longer have sufficient sources of energy to support human civilization.

High School Solar Panel Project

These all being said, you can imagine how educating the future generations of our world about energy efficiency can help in saving what remains of our energy sources and rebuilding the damage fossil fuels have done. The energy crises, the harmful consequences of fossil fuel use on the environment – our young people should be made aware as to how these are both significant issues that affect the very survival of the human race as we know it today.

Knowledge is a powerful weapon which can arm the future generations in their fight to rescue our ailing planet through resolving the issues on energy sources. Putting it into application makes it even more powerful. Showing the young ones the application of that knowledge is the best means to get their interest and win their support.

The Theory and Pracitical on a DIY Solar Panel Project

Imagine the future effects on the energy crises if pupils and students in all learning establishments were to undertake a school science project that included theory and the building of a solar panel. Solar panels harnessing the energy from sun rays are very appropriate to demonstrate to the youth the alternative energy solutions that are available. Doing the project by themselves will help them realize just how efficient solar power is. Harnessing power from the sun is a concept that young people of today should be familiar with. Let them have a hands-on project on alternative energy sources such as this one and this will help everyone benefit from the knowledge that the energy and environmental crises can be solved with modern scientific solutions.

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Silicon Solar

July 18, 2009 By: Admin Category: Solar Accessories

Comparison between the Amorphous and Crystalline Silicon Solar Panels


crystalline silicon solar 300x257 Silicon Solar

Solar panels are generally made from crystalline or amorphous silicon. Amorphous means that the solar cells does not have a crystal structure. When you see a lot of solar panels, you will notice a mosaic pattern. This mosaic is different silicon crystals that grow together in different orientations.

amorphous silicon solar 300x276 Silicon Solar

amorphous silicon solar

Amorphous type silicon solar panel do not have a crystal structure. Amorphous silicon is as a glass or obsidian. The silicon atoms are all frozen together in a random way. However, in crystalline type silicon solar panels, the silicon forms a lattice or regular repeating crystal structure.

Excess crystalline type solar cells is that they are generally more efficient. However, the crystals need time to grow and therefore more expensive to produce.

Amorphous silicon panels cheaper to produce, because no crystal structure that needs time to form. However, the amorphous solar panel is less efficient.

Some solar panel manufacturers such as Sanyo has been producing solar panels that use a combination of amorphous and crystalline silicon for maximum effect. High efficiency crystalline silicon can be used to capture most of the energy, but the various layers of amorphous silicon is added to capture what is left.

So, what amorphous construction silicon panels? They are solar panels made from a non-crystalline variety of silicon.

Note: When purchasing crystalline or amorphous silicon panel it is important to consider the cost with efficiency. A crystalline silicon panel may be very efficient, but cost can be overcome benefits. Amorphous panel less efficient, but they are also cheaper. So, there is always a balance between costs and benefits.

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Solar Battery Charger

May 25, 2009 By: Admin Category: Solar Charger

Solar Battery Chargers

Executive Summary about Solar Battery Charger by Anna Stone

solar battery charger Solar Battery Charger

Solar Battery Chargers are used to charge your batteries when you are not connected to the power grids and do not have access to another form of electricity. The way a Solar Charger works is simple. The solar panel of the battery charger collects energy from the sun and converts this into electricity. Now, there are many different types of solar battery chargers, as well as different types of batteries you might want to charge. Some solar chargers are more powerful than others. As all solar battery chargers use some type of solar panel, the amount of power they generate generally depends on the size of the panels. Solar panels are made up of individual solar cells. Solar cells are the units which create electricity out of sunlight. The more solar cells there are on a solar panel, the more electricity they create. So you will generally find that bigger solar panels produced more energy, and smaller solar panels produce less.

Some solar battery chargers work with simple AA batteries, like those that you would use to run a flashlight. Some charge the batteries of your equipment, such as the battery in your laptop computer.

You might ask why one uses a solar charger to charge a battery, instead of just directly running one’s equipment from a solar panel.

The sun’s heat might damage your cell phone. There are a variety of solar battery chargers and other portable solar power devices available on the market today. Further information and answers to common questions can be found at Solar Chargers and Portable Solar Power Devices.

How Solar Powered Battery Chargers Can Ease Your Everyday’s Life
Executive Summary about Solar Battery Charger by Assaf Katzir

Solar battery charger is one of these devices that became a necessity once we have all these electric devices that we use on a daily basis. iPod, laptop, mobile phone, PDA, GPS etc’ just name it. There are portable flexible solar panels that you can place in your small bag and use them to charge your electrical devices’ batteries when you need to without being attached to any electrical grid outlet. Most solar chargers are equipped with plug kits which match to variety of electric devices. The variety of solar chargers’ sizes, shapes and uses continue to grow rapidly.

There is no usage cost when using solar battery chargers as opposed to the utility electricity chargers. No pollution released to the atmosphere when using portable solar charger and no chemicals leached into our ground water when discarded since we are using rechargeable batteries, so you contribute to keep environment clean, not to mention that you save money when you use a solar charger.

As you can see there are many benefits and advantages while using solar powered battery charger.

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Nanosolar

May 24, 2009 By: Admin Category: Nanosolar, Solar Cells

Nanosolar Powersheet

Executive Summary about Nanosolar by nanosolar.com -MICHAEL MOYER

nanosolar Nanosolar

Imagine a solar panel without the panel. Just a coating, thin as a layer of paint, that takes light and converts it to electricity. From there, you can picture roof shingles with solar cells built inside and window coatings that seem to suck power from the air.

Cost has always been one of solar’s biggest problems. Traditional solar cells require silicon, and silicon is an expensive commodity (exacerbated currently by a global silicon shortage). That means even the cheapest solar panels cost about $3 per watt of energy they go on to produce.

Nanosolar’s cells use no silicon, and the company’s manufacturing process allows it to create cells that are as efficient as most commercial cells for as little as 30 cents a watt. “It really is quite a big deal in terms of altering the way we think about solar and in inherently altering the economics of solar.”

In San Jose, Nanosolar has built what will soon be the world’s largest solar-panel manufacturing facility. California, for instance, recently launched the Million Solar Roofs initiative, which will provide tax breaks and rebates to encourage the installation of 100,000 solar roofs per year, every year, for 10 consecutive years (the state currently has 30,000 solar roofs). The company is ready for the solar boom.

NANOSOLAR: Solar-cell Coating

Executive Summary about Nanosolar by Silicon Valley

Solar panels are big, clunky, heavy, require special installation, and, if they break, replacing them can be quite expensive.

The PowerSheet is made from a layer of solar-absorbing nano-ink that is printed onto a foil-thin metal sheet.

Because of the ever-increasing costs of energy and the obvious environmental impact of burning up fossil fuels, turning to alternative energy sources such as solar energy is a priority.

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Solar Electric

May 22, 2009 By: Admin Category: Solar Electricity

The High Costs of Solar Electric Power

Executive Summary about Solar Electric by Klaus H Hemsath

solar electric Solar Electric

Promotion of solar power generation is booming. Why are solar farms built when financial data clearly show that solar power is still the most expensive electricity generation technology available?

Solar power plant developers and marketers obviously know that they need to lower costs. Cost reduction is, however, expensive and takes time. There are two major technologies for solar energy conversion. Electricity production with steam is a very mature technology. The other technology is the direct, photovoltaic conversion of sunlight into electricity. This technology will most likely become the dominant solar electric power generating technology – eventually. The concentrated sunshine creates very high surface temperatures on the solar panel. To save solar panel area and make the solar panel price competitive, one must cool the surface of the solar panel very efficiently to prevent it from melting and destruction.

Present production costs for generating electricity with solar panels are hovering around $0.50 per kWh. Right now, solar power does not yet make economical sense.

None of the available technologies using renewable energy can compete with the cost of electricity generation from coal.

The technologies for generating electricity with solar power, wind power, marine power, and geothermal power are very well understood. At present, a respectable number of windmill farms and solar panel farms are being installed. Solar power does not make economical sense, yet. A random sampling of recent announcements of solar farm installations reveals that system installation costs are in the $3000 to $7500 per kW installed capacity. These plant costs loosely translate into a cost of producing electric power at $0.30 to $0.60 per kWh. This very unfavorably compares to the cost of electricity generation by any other technology.

As long as solar power constitutes only a very small fraction of overall electric power generation, the additional costs of storing intermittently produced electric power are not yet of concern. If the US is going to depend significantly on the intermittent production of electricity from solar power and wind power, it must begin to develop storage technologies for huge amounts of electric energy. Intermittent, renewable energies and electric energy storage are inseparable.

The Solar Electric Panel – An Inexpensive Way to Generate Electricity
Executive Summary about Solar Electric by Dan A Swanson

The solar electric panels, generally called solar photovoltaic panels, are made of a set of treated silicon cells arranged in a series array. They produce electricity on being exposed to the sunlight. A small solar electric panel will lessen the energy bills considerably, while a big solar panel will in fact budge the meter backwards. The contemporary solar electric panels are simple to install and are modular. The solar electric panels transform the sunlight to DC (direct current) electricity. Buy any of these solar electric panels according to your requirements.

Solar electric panels are the perfect answer to our increasing electricity bills and ever increasing reliance on depleting conventional energy resources. Make a one time investment in solar panels and generate free electricity for years to come. Solar electric panels are the need of the hour.

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Solar Installation

May 21, 2009 By: Admin Category: General

Solar Panel Installation – How to Do It

Executive Summary about Solar Installation by Gio Rigt

solar installation Solar Installation

Make sure you choose the perfect location for you solar panels. Nothing should block the solar panel from receiving sunlight. A little bit of shadow blocking the panels reduces the amount of energy the solar panel produces tremendously.

Place the posts first and attach metal rails to the posts on your roof. Attach solar panel mounts to the solar panels, the roof-ground mounts will suffice.

After installing the solar panels, connect them to the inverter. When it comes to inverters, the synchronous solar panel inverter is the best affordable choice.

The solar energy is stored in a battery, excess energy is sold back to the utility company. If there ever is a situation where you do not have enough energy for your house, the utility company will supply the energy through the solar panel converter.

You are done with your solar panel installation.

Solar Panels – Professional Installation Vs Do-It-Yourself
Executive Summary about Solar Installation by Tina Metcalf

There is a product available on the internet called Earth for Energy. For about $40, they will send you a PDF or Adobe file with information on how to make or build your own energy efficient green devices.

Supposedly, for a fraction of the retail costs, someone should be able to construct windmills, solar cell panels and other green related things to either augment your electrical consumption, or ultimately, get yourself off the grid completely. Thinking efficiency all around, it would be so much easier, and in the long run cost effective, to find reputable dealers that build and manufacture green technology, like solar cell panels.  My thought is this; go with a local solar installer (like Cooler Planet), let them sweat the details, add on a little at a time as your budget allows, and enjoy your life.

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