On The Cutting Edge Of Eco-Friendly Energy: The Solar Electricity System

Ever since Edison gave us the light bulb, our lives have been illuminated in more way than we could have ever imagined. Behind the power of electricity are the thrills of new discoveries and the dreams of future inventions that seem endless. Electricity it literally makes the world go round and we have come to depend on it like the water we drink every day. Businesses thrive and industries grow around the commodity of electricity which the public demands seems to multiply like cells divide. Could we ever live without it? Could we still maintain the level of communication that seems to outpace our needs? I Think Not. Yes it is a given that coal, oil, natural gas and even nuclear material have provided the means to generate the electrical power thus far. However, these resources are limited and are they really Eco-friendly? That is why we are waking up to the reality that we must find and use cleaner and safer sources for energy. Well I'm here to tell you that our future is very bright and I really mean it, just look up to the sky after day-break. Yes my friends, using the sun's unceasing energy we are able to produce all the power we need by means of a solar electricity system.

Utilizing the sun's power by continuous and reflected light solar electricity systems work very efficiently. By using wafer thin pieces of semiconductor materials like silicon or crystalline gallium arsenide better known as solar cells or PV (photovoltaic) cells, technology enables us to exchange the sunlight for electricity. Using basic electronic circuits the PV cells are connected in series and parallel to produce affordable electricity. Would you believe that 20 or 30 cents per kilowatt/hour is a reasonable price? Our scientists have been using this type of power for decades. We rely on this technology more than you may think, from communication satellites that orbit the earth to probes that send us critical information about the vastness of space, all are powered by solar cell systems. Compared to more traditional fossil fuel generation plant, solar electricity systems offer an eternal Earth-friendly use of a free resource. Given the fact that the sun only shines for a given period each day and our planet orbit create seasons, the effectiveness of solar cells can be fairly low. In order to efficiently use solar converted electricity, which is DC (Direct Current) we use converters that transform it to AC (Alternating Current), the common form that we have come to know.

Energy from the sun can be used in other ways too. Solar radiation includes an energy spectrum of infrared light waves which are longer and generate heat in dense materials. This energy can be focused and directed to heat and even boil specific liquids including water to run turbines which drive electric generators. Using a highly reflective surface shaped to bounce the solar radiation into a specific area is better known as a parabolic trough. This technology enables the concentrated radiant solar energy onto a receiver which contains a thermal transfer liquid. The heated liquid drives a turbine-generator by releasing its heat and is returned to the receiver to be re-heated again. Systems such as these work very well in hot arid desert locations. Solar radiation is converted more efficiently with this type solar electric system. To optimize the productivity of systems such as these, solar dishes and power generation towers are implemented.

As we have evolved from primitive energy sources of coal, oil and natural gas our understanding of their use has become evident. Considering the ecologic effects of using fossil fuels using cleaner and sustainable energy sources has a greater benefit to all life of the planet. Long before there was ever a need for electricity, plants have always utilized their unique ability of photosynthesis to harness the suns energy harmoniously, why can't we? Our society is at the age of technology and information and we have a responsibility to use it wisely. By modeling our environment and using solar energy such as the live sustaining vegetation of the earth, there is no reason to dig into the earth for our energy needs. Every day is filled with an endless amount of energy from the sun and solar electricity systems can achieve our needs.

Hi my name is Aaron Mitchell. I an avid researcher of free energy facts and solutions to using free energy. I love to share my online research findings and discoveries with others through my blog Free-EnergyFacts.com.

If you you'd like to learn more about free energy then please read below:

FREE! "Discover The Secrets Of Being Able To Generate FREE Power On Command By Using Underground Technology THEY Desperately Don't Want You To Know About"

That's Right -- This Report Will Show You Exactly How To Harness FREE Power By Using A Little Known, Yet Brutally Effective Concept That's Been Kept Underground Until Now!

Just click the link below and you will be taken to the free special report:
Free Energy Facts

Perspectives on Photovoltaics - Costs Decrease As Solar Cell Technology Advances

When it comes to photovoltaic (PV) cells, Wall Street is concerned primarily with established companies employing traditional silicon-based technologies. However, record high oil prices based on genuine long-term supply worries has Wall Street increasing its interest in companies developing other PV technologies and materials, because at least for the immediate future, all types of PV technologies will thrive. This is despite the fact that the price of polysilicon, a key material used in traditional silicon-based solar cells and semiconductors, is expected to come down within the next six months. Lower polysilicon prices would seem to dampen interest in alternative non-silicon PV technologies because of their lower efficiencies in harnessing solar energy.

In fact, it is easy to foresee a segmented industry with a dual focus. One segment would focus on silicon-based photovoltaics using rigid, bulky solar panels primarily in large-scale applications such as producing power for utilities. A second segment would focus on low-cost technologies based on nanomaterials and conductive polymers to provide flexible PV products for buildings with better efficiencies and aesthetics.

Silicon-based Photovoltaics

The generally higher efficiencies (12-22 percent) of rigid solar cells based on silicon technology have made silicon the photovoltaic of choice despite its relatively high manufacturing costs. One way to bring down cost is through a modified manufacturing process called silicon ribbon growth that reduces the number of processing steps to six from the nine used in conventional bulk silicon growth based on ingot technology. Evergreen Solar (www.evergreensolar.com), a recognized leader in the field, has been developing interesting manufacturing processes using ribbon silicon technology.

Regardless of whether silicon solar cells are based on ingot or ribbon growth manufacturing technologies, however, increasing energy conversion efficiency will always be an issue. One way to attain greater efficiency is to increase solar cells' spectral sensitivity by using broader or different regions of solar radiation, by better matching the solar emission and producing higher absorption coefficients, and by using a higher fraction of sunlight that eliminates losses through excessive heating of the silicon cell. For example, a 2004 patent, "High Efficient PN Junction Solar Cell" (US6696739B2) describes a solar cell showing improved energy conversion efficiency by minimizing the shading loss while reducing the manufacturing costs.

Still another way of lowering cost is through the technique of concentrated photovoltaics. Passive optical elements are used to concentrate sunlight onto photovoltaic cells resulting in more energy output while using fewer PV cells.

Thin Films and Plastic or Polymer-based Photovoltaics

The first generation PV cells, developed in the 1970s, used monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicon. These are the rigid panels most people think of whenever solar cells are mentioned. These PV cells are made of semiconductor wafers in glass and require complex manufacturing processes.

The second generation, developed in the '80s, is known as thin films. It still requires low-pressure, high-temperature film deposition and complex manufacturing processes. Cadmium telluride (CdTe) cells are the most successful technology of this generation because of their very high conversion efficiency combined with a bandgap that is very close to the theoretically calculated optimum value for solar cells under un-concentrated sunlight. This is also an ideal PV cell for use in concentrated photovoltaics.

The majority of these second-generation cells are placed on glass, so they remain rigid. However, Global Solar (www.globalsolar.com) announced in March 2008 that it has developed a proprietary process for manufacturing flexible thin-film copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) photovoltaic modules. While other companies produce CIGS on glass, Global Solar is thought to be the only company with CIGS on flexible materials. CIGS cells are deposited on a stainless steel backing which also makes them lightweight and durable.

Organic Solar Cells

Plastic or polymer-based photovoltaics, developed in the '90s, are considered third- generation solar cells. Also called organic solar cells, these cells use photoactive or photosensitive dyes and conducting polymers that can be manufactured at high speeds and low temperatures.

Manufacturing costs can be reduced as a result of using a low temperature process similar to printing instead of the high temperature vacuum deposition process typically used to produce the first and second generation cells. Reduced installation costs are achieved by producing flexible rolls instead of rigid crystalline panels.

Currently, third generation solar cells are not as efficient as the first- or second-generation cells, but their lower cost offsets this deficiency. In the long term, these materials should cost even less and, using quantum dots to decrease the bandgap of the base material, they should reach higher efficiency levels than conventional cells.

Efficiency Improvements Being Explored

University of Notre Dame researchers have shown that adding carbon nanotubes to a titanium dioxide film doubles the efficiency of converting ultraviolet light into electrons when compared with the performance of nanoparticles alone. (Titanium dioxide is a main ingredient in white paint.) Without the carbon nanotubes, electrons generated when light is absorbed by titanium dioxide particles have to jump from particle to particle to reach an electrode. Many never make it out to generate an electrical current. The carbon nanotubes provide a conduit for electrons for a more direct route to the electrode, improving solar cell efficiency.

Titanium dioxide, however, absorbs only ultraviolet light, leaving most of the visible spectrum of sunlight to be reflected rather than absorbed. In dye-sensitized solar cells, a one-molecule thick layer of light-absorbing dye is applied to the titanium dioxide nanoparticles to catch more of the spectrum. Another approach coats nanoparticles with quantum dots or nanocrystals, which act as tiny semiconductors. Unlike conventional materials in which one photon generates just one electron, quantum dots are able to convert high-energy photons into multiple electrons. Other ways of improving collection of electrons within a solar cell include forming titanium dioxide nanotubes or complex branching structures made of various semiconductors.

Emerging Leaders in Printed Photovoltaics

Konarka Technologies (www.konarka.com) recently announced the first demonstration of manufacturing solar cells by highly efficient inkjet printing. "Demonstrating the use of inkjet-printing technology as a fabrication tool for highly efficient solar cells and sensors with small area requirements is a major milestone," says Rick Hess, President and CEO at Konarka. "This essential breakthrough in the field of printed solar cells positions Konarka as an emerging leader in printed photovoltaics." Inkjet printing is commonly used for controlled applications of functional materials solutions in specific locations on a substrate (RFID tags, for example), and it can provide easy and fast deposition of polymer films over a large area. Another leader in organic or plastic solar cells (third generation PV) is Plextronics (http://www.plextronics.com), a company concentrating on printed electronics technology.

Konarka's Power Plastic technology is focused on delivering lightweight, flexible, scalable, and manufacturable products. The inkjet demonstration confirms that organic solar cells can be processed using printing technologies with little or no loss compared with clean-room semiconductor technologies, such as spin coating. Inkjet printing could become a smart tool to manufacture solar cells with multiple colors and patterns for lower-power requirement products, such as indoor or sensor applications.

According to Solar Cells Info (solarcellsinfo.com), by 2009 at the latest, Konarka plans to bring multiple forms of its product to market-everything from tiny cells for sensors to fabric-based (solar cells embedded in awnings, for example) and larger building panels. The process involves printing or coating nanoparticles such as quantum dots or nanocrystals onto other material. Hess says Konarka is currently working with U.S. Green Building Council LEED designers on custom installations.

Final Thoughts

On the environmental side, it is estimated that compared to fossil fuel electricity generation, each kW of installed solar PV power annually saves up to 25 kg (55 lbs) of nitrogen & sulfur oxides, and offsets 600 to 2300 kg (1300 to 5100 lbs) of carbon dioxide, depending on the fuel mix and solar insolation (Incident solar radiation). It is worth noting that only a few years ago, while oil prices were relatively low, the growth of interest in PV technologies was based mostly on the environmental concerns rather than the concern on exhaustion of fossil fuel reserves and the recent higher oil prices. It is now clear that the dual focus of PV technologies along with improving the efficiency and reducing costs of the various PV systems will ensure sustained growth in this industry.

Nerac Inc. is a global research and advisory firm for companies developing innovative products and technologies. Nerac Analysts deliver custom assessments of product and technology development opportunities, competitor intelligence, intellectual property strategies, and compliance requirements through a proven blended approach to custom analysis: review of technical knowledge, investigation of intellectual property, and appraisal of business impacts. Nerac deploys analysts in diverse disciplines to help clients discover new applications, serving as a catalyst for new thinking and creative approaches to business problems or identifying strategic growth opportunities. On the web at http://www.nerac.com

4 Key Parts Needed For Solar Power Electricity

Solar power electricity installations are gaining moment all over the world. Stock of fossil fuels is fast depleting and alternate natural energy solutions, like solar power electricity is becoming popular.

Natural energy solutions are environment friendly with little or no air pollution and no emissions or greenhouse effects. Solar power electricity production is also free of noise pollution.

How is solar power electricity produced?

It is produced by converting light from the sun into electrical energy using a silicon wafer / semiconductor called a photovoltaic cell. This technology is simple and easy to maintain.

What are the main parts of a typical residential solar power electricity system?

A typical residential system would have 4 key Parts:

1) Solar panel array

2) Charging controller

3) Batteries

4) Inverter

Solar panel array: Solar panel array is made up of several solar panels. A series of photovoltaic cells working in unison in a module form the solar panel. The solar panel array needs to be exposed to sunlight, and the array is normally installed on rooftops where sunlight exposure is more. The solar array converts light energy into solar power electricity. Electrical energy in the form of 12 volts (DC) is produced by the solar panel array.

Charging controller: The charging controller is the device that controls the amount of charging for the batteries. Batteries should not be overcharged, neither should they be undercharged. This device, which sits between the solar panel array and the battery bank, controls the charging.

Batteries: These are deep cycle batteries used for storage of solar power electricity produced by the solar array panel. The 12 volts (DC) produced by the solar panel array is stored in the batteries. The charging controller regulates charging, thus extending the life of these batteries.

Inverter: The output from batteries is 12 volts (DC) and can run only devices that work on 12 volts (DC). Most home appliances work on 110 / 220 volts (AC). Hence 12 volts (DC) needs to be converted into 100 / 200 volts (AC). The inverter does the job of converting 12 volts (DC) into 110 / 200 volts (AC).

Along with these four main components several other hardware accessories, wires and connectors would be required to have the complete solar power electricity system functional.

Krishnan Varadarajan is an Infrastructure Consultant with focus on alternate energy solutions.You can now install Solar Power Electricity on your own for less than $ 200. To get your DIY guide now visit http://www.know-to.com/energy/solar.html

Thin Film Solar Panels - An Exciting Breakthrough in Solar Technology

The thin film solar panels are one of the newest breakthroughs in the booming solar industry.  Compared to their predecessor, they are much thinner and affordable and may well lead to a much wider use of solar energy in near future.

The working mechanism behind the thin film solar panels is the same as their "thick" counterparts.  Both use photovoltaic cells to collect sunlight and convert it into electric current through the interaction between the sunlight and the semiconductor material contained in the PV cells.    The  electricity thus generated can be put into use right away at your home or office.  You can also store it with batteries to back up the power at nights or on cloudy days.

What exactly has enabled the thin film PV cells to work with the same efficiency but at a much reduced cost?  The answer is in the semiconductor material.  The first generation of solar panels, which are the thick ones that we are all used to seeing, use crystalline silicon as the semiconductor material.  Each solar cell is produced on a different silicon wafer, one by one.  This is an extremely labor-intensive process, which makes the solar panels unaffordable by mass people.

The semiconductor material used in thin film PV cells, as a contrast, is much thinner and cheaper.  What's better, it can be mass produced with an automated system and thereby cuts down the labor work by 3 times. You can imagine that, with this reduced cost, more and more businesses will be encouraged to enter the manufacturing of solar panels.  If this happens, the prices of solar panels will become even more affordable.

And, there are more exciting applications.  With the solar cells being smaller, they are also more light-weighted and can be flexibly placed onto various smaller and light-weighted objects.  For instance, the solar roof shingles are produced by covering the traditional asphalt roof with a layer of thin file solar cells.  Now,  instead of holding your solar panel with the large and heavy steel arrays, your solar roof can look almost the same as that of your neighbors.

Portable solar panels are another product of the thin film technology.  They are being manufactured to power up just any type of electric appliances, from cell phones, GPS devices, MP3 players, to televisions and laptops.   How handy it will be if you can install a solar panel on your backpack or in your purse?  You can carry it wherever you go and charge your portable electric devices whenever needed.

If the thin film solar panels still sound to you like a complex technical innovation rather than an easily accessible daily product, don't worry.  Think about the digital watches.  They cost dearly a few decades ago, but can be  purchased today at a very friendly price.  This will be the future of our solar panels!

Click here to check out various hot discussions about alternative energy power.

Click here for a related article about home wind power.

How to Boost Your Solar Power Efficiency

Are Fossil fuels forever?

Fossil fuel is finite. That means it would not last forever. There is only so much oil that can be pumped out of the ground or seabed. Burning fossil fuel releases harsh pollutants into the environment. You can contribute to environment conservation by using cheap solar energy. But I have heard many complaints about solar energy efficiency.

Engineering Solar Energy

You can basically tap into the sun energy in one of two ways: convert sunlight into electricity or collect the sun heat for heating purposes. The solar thermal approach to solar energy reflects the sun heat from mirrors onto a pipe filled with fluid. As the fluid heats up, it can boil water to supply your home. On the other hand, photovoltaic cells or solar panels utilize silicon as a semiconductor to absorb the sun rays and produce electricity.

There have been plenty of advances in engineering that have boosted solar power efficiency. Solar thermal power is about 30% efficient in converting the heat of the sun into electricity. This is double the efficiency of solar panels. So that makes solar thermal systems a lot cheaper than solar panels. But the solar dishes have to be very large to capture enough sunlight to concentrate for heating. That is definitely not practical for your home. That is why most houses use compact solar panels instead.

New Advances

Compared to the early 2000 years, the silicon wafers on solar panels are now 40% thinner. Up to 36 silicon wafers are located on one solar panel which is now about 20% - 40% efficient in converting solar energy to electricity. The sort of electricity you get is called direct current or D.C. This has to be converted to alternating current, or A.C, before you can use it to power your toaster and washing machine. There is an inverter that does the job for you. So that means solar power efficiency from solar panels becomes very much reduced due to the electricity conversion process.

Scientists argue that the maximum efficiency you can get from present day technology for silicon based solar panels is only 40%. Therefore, to get the highest amount of returns from your solar energy systems, you should use passive solar heating techniques coupled with direct sunlight for day lighting in your home. By using the highest efficiency level solar panels for your other energy requirements such as household appliances you can maximize solar power efficiency.

Solar Power Efficiency Rates

Although many folks have switched to using solar panels and solar water heating systems, current solar power efficiency rates mean that solar power can only provide about 70% of the energy requirements of your household. Despite the ability of storing energy in batteries, you can not rely on solar energy during prolonged periods of cold weather with weak sunshine. So you should also be connected to a utility network that provides you with power at the flick of a switch.

Right, so here is what you should do now... if your solar power efficiency is not up to scratch, you have got to take the right measures now to boost your solar efficiency.

You need clean and cheap solar energy. I have got everything you want at my site. Visit my site now!

You can learn more about how to become an independent energy producer and know How To Boost Your Solar Power Efficiency system. Implement Solar Power Home Systems[http://renewable-sources-of-energy.org/?page_id=705] visit us now!

Start taking positive action today towards your economy and planet and you will be astonished just how things can be enriched and transformed.

A. Arvizu

Renewable Sources of Energy

Solar Cells - An Intro and Overview

To understand the field of solar energy, one must begin with solar cells (otherwise known as photovoltaic cells.) Basically, these are devices that convert light directly into electricity. The photovoltaics market is generally invested in the manufacture of cells made of wafer-like pieces of silicon. Typically, many individual cells are assembled together in frames, forming a solar array. There are currently three types of solar cell commonly available for practical residential and personal use.

The cheapest and least efficient type of solar cell is known as amorphous silicon. This is a form of silicon that can be applied to a material (usually glass) in a thin film. It is therefore much cheaper to manufacture. A strong disadvantage of this material is that it lacks the well-ordered crystalline pattern of other forms of silicon, and features a large drop-off in conversion efficiency.

The highest efficiency comes from monocrystalline silicon cells, constructed of single crystals cut from large cylindrical ingots, resulting in circular wafer-like cells. This rounded shape comes with one disadvantage: multiple cells can't be framed snugly together, resulting in some wasted space. This raises some contention as to whether or not, when framed together in a larger arrays, these cells produce notably more electricity than the polycrystalline cell variety. Panels made with monocrystalline cells also come with a higher price tag.

Based on sales, the most common type of photovoltaic cell is polycrystalline. These are made from multiple silicon crystals and cut into square wafers to be mounted together in an array. They are cheaper and easier to manufacture than monocrystalline cells, but slightly less efficient.

Solar power is one of the fastest growing fields in energy production, and new developments are being made all the time. R&D labs around the world are developing cells boasting higher conversion rates. Panels are being developed made from cheaper forms of silicon, and a process has even been developed to recycle or "re-purpose" suitable material from scrapped semiconductor wafers. The AIST, a Japanese research facility, has been able to develop transparent panels that convert UV light into electricity while allowing visible light to pass through. Such a material could one day be used to replace windows. Bottom line, solar energy is a massive field, and the small, unassuming solar cell has the potential to carry the world into a cleaner and easier future.

Edmund E. Taylor has researched and writes on a number of topics including solar energy, the green movement, renewable resources and recycling. His background is in teaching and higher education. For more of Edmund's articles on green energy, please visit PV Power, a supplier of residential and commercial solar power information.

Solar Power Home Electricity: A System on the Frontier of Renewable Energy

There is no denying that for the past 110 years, electricity has been the key in providing the resources for the comprehensive developments and advancement achieved by mankind. Now, we look for systems that push forward renewable energy. Solar power home produced electricity is one energy source system.

Look all around us, and you will see that there are new technologies and inventions being developed with a dependence upon electricity. In addition, as the expansion of the world's economy amplifies so does the huge requirement for electricity. This massive demand is being met by hydroelectric generators, nuclear stations, solar farms, wind systems and other conventional methods of producing electricity.

Electricity producing methods of fossil fuels like coal and oil so far have given us the basic assets to create electricity with the use of steam turbine generators in utility power facilities. However, these techniques have been confirmed to be dangerous to the living ecosystems on earth, and have been mathematically shown to be a limited source of energy. In other words, fossil fuels for generating electricity are not renewable.

You would have to agree, in our present world, we cannot live without electricity. Our demand for electricity power is increasing almost daily and we clamor that new research which will lead us to the creation and expansion of safer and cleaner energy sources. Just as mentioned earlier, solar power home produced electricity is one valuable energy source system.

Basically, in use today for harnessing solar power energy, the two methods of employing solar electricity systems are indirect and direct.

Direct methods

use photovoltaic cells, termed solar cells.
made from wafer-thin slices of crystalline gallium arsenide, silicon, or other semiconductor materials which transfers solar radiation into a flow of electrons or electricity.
solar cells are connected in large numbers into clear anodized aluminum alloy and glass flat panels.
modern advancement of solar photovoltaic power cell panels has reduced cost of electricity to 20 - 30 cents per kilowatt-hour.
solar technology has been used from the beginning of space exploration to provide electricity energy to satellites both that orbit the earth and travel out into far deep space.
solar electricity systems provide a long-term and sustainable energy resource because there are no moving mechanical parts.
solar cells have relatively low efficiency rating.
solar power panels are dependent on the time of day, weather conditions and often seasonal changes.
solar electricity systems need to have an inverter to switch the DC voltage into AC current in order to be consumed in commercial enterprises and in homes.

Indirect methods

concentrates solar radiation into a focus so that the energy heats to boiling liquids (often water) which in turn drives turbines to rotate in magnetic field and produces electricity
employment of a parabolic trough that is made up of a linear parabolic reflector to concentrate solar energy into a receptor positioned on a focal line from the receiver; then, tubing connected to the turbine filled with liquid that takes in the heat generated through the application of the solar energy
this type of solar electricity generating systems has a higher efficiency because the sun's radiation is pinpointed utilized.
other developed technologies extend the indirect power generating efficiency rating by using solar energy towers along with sun reflecting dishes

We have realized through experience that even though fossil fuels are power producing beneficial, they are used with long-term negative consequences.

These realizations of negative outcomes have moved us towards a trend of renewable, non-pollutant sustainable energy to help guarantee life on earth is continued.

Plant life has used solar energy since time immemorial, so why can't we as intelligent human beings harness this solar power without negative consequences.

In many popular opinions, the big energy companies seem to be holding back progress, and in the intervening period, also are digging up the earth and polluting the oceans. It's up all earthlings to start looking to the heavens.

Solar power and wind generated electricity systems provide the methods to achieve the goal of sustainable living.

Paul Armenta wants to help you save lots of money by learning about solar power from others and the free electricity generating process so you can generate your own electricity power at home. Go to http://www.Best-SolarPowerHome.com The best solar power electricity information on how people want solar power panels for their homes are revealed. Solar power is an important way to help build a sustainable world. See blog for more solar info http://bestsolarpowerforhome.blogspot.com/

Solar Technology and Photovoltaic Cells

Concentrating photovoltaic's (CPV) uses lenses and mirrors to focus the sun's energy. This technology includes both a low-concentration approach, which increases the sun's magnification by between 2 and 100 times, and a high concentration approach, which can increase the magnification by hundreds of suns when the PV efficiency exceeds 40%. CPV uses less photovoltaic material and increases performance, hopefully enough to offset any additional costs.

Concentrating Photovoltaics and Thermal (CPVT) is another technology; this produces both electricity and thermal heat in the same module. Thermal energy itself is a benefit from the sun, and other plants have a design of a solar power tower in which the mirrors focus sunlight on a heat receiver at the top that collects the heat and transfers it to piping inside the tower where is it circulated and used to make electricity. The design minimizes the field of piping to the vertical tower height to a few hundred meters and can reach temperatures in excess of 1000 degrees.While currently there are very few commercially operating tower installations, based on announcements, this technology may grow rapidly.

The Solar Two tower in California is an example of this technology and has the capability to produce 10 megawatts of power. Because of its success, Solar Tres is being built in Spain; this will be three times larger than the Solar Two plant and have a capacity of 17 megawatts. As it is, Solar Two's tower has been removed in 2009 to make way for a larger solar project. Another solar thermal technology is the parabolic trough. The SEGS plants in California utilize this technology and have a capacity of 33 megawatts each. Nevada Solar One is another very large CSP project with a capacity of 64 megawatts, using Flabeg AG troughs made in Germany.

When we look into photovoltaic cell technology and the materials used, throughout the world crystalline silicon has been used as the light-absorbing semiconductor in most solar cells, even though it is a relatively poor absorber of light and requires a considerable thickness of material. Nevertheless, it has proved convenient because it yields stable solar cells with good efficiencies. There are two types of crystalline silicon are used in the industry. The first is mono crystalline, produced by slicing wafers from a high-purity single crystal. The second is multi crystalline silicon, made by sawing a cast block of silicon first into bars and then wafers. Most efficient production cells use mono crystalline c-Si with laser grooved, buried grid contacts for maximum light absorption and current collection. The main trend in crystalline silicon cell manufacture is toward multicrystalline technology. And for both mono- and multicrystalline Si, a semiconductor homo junction is formed by diffusing phosphorus into the top surface of the boron doped (p-type) Si wafer. Screen-printed contacts are applied to the front and rear of the cell, with the front contact pattern specially designed to allow maximum light exposure of the Si material with minimum electrical (resistive) losses in the cell. Crystalline silicon cell technology forms about 90% of solar cell demand. The balance comes from thin film technologies. Approximately 45% of the cost of a silicon cell solar module is driven by the cost of the silicon wafer, a further 35% is driven by the materials required to assemble the solar module.

Deevan Solar Panel Hot Water Heating.

Concentrated Solar Power California.

Get Thin Film Solar Panels

Have you ever heard of thin film solar panels? If you are a solar energy system aficionado, you must have read about these great breakthroughs. If not, then this article will give you an idea of what they are and how amazing they can be.

Thin film solar panels, also called as "thin film photovoltaic (PV) solar panels" are a new innovation which has a potential in making solar energy system more affordable. They use the same photovoltaic process that conventional solar panels do. Their PV cells have semiconductors where the sunlight interacts. Once interaction is made, electric current is produced. This energy may be used real-time or may be stored in batteries for later utilization.

So, if they work just like the conventional solar systems, what's new about them?

Well, the difference is obvious: they are thin. The conventional solar panels use crystalline silicon as semiconductor materials. They produce electricity from the sunlight but they are labor-intensive to create. You see, every single cell has to be produced on a solo silicon wafer. This is what makes the panels very expensive. As you know, this is also the reason why they are not widely used. After all, not everyone has the buying capacity.

This is where thin film solar panels come into scene. They use semiconductors which are thinner than crystalline silicon. They can be mass-produced by the use of cheaper materials and automated systems. The process is almost three times less laborious than creating conventional crystalline silicon and this is what makes them a more affordable choice. For entrepreneurs who wish to get into the solar panel marketing business, the start-up capital would be lower. The more entrepreneurs venture into this business, the better for the consumers. Why? Because the lower the prices of solar panels would be!

You know what's another great thing about this thin film technology? It has made the solar cells a lot more compact and lightweight, so much so that they can sometimes be hardly recognizable. They have also become so flexible that you will not have to set up an elaborate structure just to hold your panels in place. These days, you can integrate the thin film into your wall or roof and people wouldn't even notice it's there. Thin film solar panels for metal roofing are already available in the market as well as thin film composition for roof shingles.

Presently, more portable solar energy systems are being produced to power up basic electronic devices used in daily life such as mobile phones, MP3 players, and GPS devices. Laptops and TVs can also now be run by thin film solar technology. These miniature solar panels are compact and lightweight that you can install them in your backpack or slip into your purse. Who would have thought solar power can be this handy? Although they may still cost a lot these days, it won't surely take long before they become affordable to every average Joe (and Jane) who wishes to experience the revolution.

Discover the secrets to making a solar power generator for less than $325! Come get my FREE Ebook "The Secrets To Making Your Own Solar Power Generator For Less Than $325!"

solar energy

From 1839 until now – a look at the history of solar panels

Solar panels are one of the most popular and affordable goods that homeowners can use to significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Solar panels do not rely on the use of fossil fuels. Instead, they rely on Sun and copious amounts of solar radiation that reaches the Earth from the Sun.

While most people feel solar panels as a fairly recent development, which have a surprisingly long history in the world of science. Beginning with the discovery of the photovoltaic effect in 1839 to the creation of the first modern solar cells used in the 1950s and beyond. Photovoltaics is the science behind the solar panels. The photovoltaic effect was first discovered in 1839 by scientist Alexandre Edmond Becquerel. Is a physical method of using semiconductors for converting solar radiation into electricity.

Today the most common semiconductor used to create solar cells that make up the solar panels are the Silicon. The first process used to create Silicon was the Czochralski method. The method takes a Polish scientist Jan Czochralski, who used the first method to create single crystals of metal. The same method was used to create single crystal silicon. Silicon semiconductor is that, as already mentioned, enables you to create an electric current of solar radiation. Today, solar cells, monocrystalline and polycrystalline are most used two types of cells.

A cell is a small disc-shaped, square or "wafer" that consists of a semiconductor such as Silicon material. Solar cells are joined together to make a solar panel--hence the appearance of the grid solar panels. Some cells were created before the 1950s, but the first modern Silicon photovoltaics (another word for solar) cells that were actually used were developed in the 1950s.

Bell Labs produced cells that were used for various space missions, and in 1954 was also the first company to announce the invention of modern silicon cell. Their invention was presented to a National Academy of science meeting after the announcement. Well-known publication, the New York Times reported that the invention would become the wave of the future by harnessing "limitless energy of the Sun".

Bell Labs Silicon photovoltaic cell was about 6 percent efficient. In 1957 a photovoltaic cell 8 percent efficient. In 1960 a solar cell 14 percent efficient topped that, and so on is gone. Today, the maximum efficiency is achieved by about 42 percent. This number may seem low but is only representative of the energy conversion rate of a single solar cell. As already mentioned, many solar cells are combined to create a solar panel. Then the panels are grouped to create array systems that can feed an entire homes and commercial buildings.

Phoenix solar Energy Transmission company is a premier source of solar products. The company is an excellent choice among companies solar Arizona.

Solar panels-renewable electricity or heating for your home

The Sun is not only the source of light, but also a source of energy. Plants use this energy of the Sun by a process known as photosynthesis. This energy is then stored in terms of biomass. Something similar to this is the technique used in the case of solar panels. This is a newly developed apparatus for producing solar energy from sunlight. There are mainly two ways that solar panels can help you in your home or Office-photovoltaic and water heating systems. The article further elaborates on these two.

Photo voltaic Panel module or

A photovoltaic module or Panel is composed of a number of inter-connected photovoltaic cells, also commonly called solar cells. These solar cells are placed on the Panel in the form of a wafer. These wafers are manufactured by a thin film of a very commonly used semiconductor, Silicon. Silicon has a special property of being extremely sensitive to sunlight. Then captures the energy carried by photons and then converts it into electricity. This energy is then stored in solar cells for future use. Diodes are also included in this type of solar panel to avoid overheating of the photovoltaic cells.

Solar panels have a higher initial cost, but require little maintenance except that need to be well protected by strong mechanical shocks as they are extremely fragile and delicate.

SOLAR THERMAL COLLECTORS

As the name suggests, these types of solar panels are used to collect heat from the Sun. This heat can then be used to heat water to produce water solar hated or can be used to boil water into steam which is in turn used to move the turbines and generate electricity. There are many types, but most commonly used are solar thermal collectors, flat-screen TVs as water heating systems.

This type consists of a flat sheet black well protected and isolated an element absorbent. In this paper are black absorber tubes which are hollow to carry water. When the Sun's rays hit the black sheet Panel and the pipes absorb heat and water flowing via simple convection. This solar-heated water then can be used for many purposes in homes or offices. Solar heating systems are widely used in many colder regions of the world.

Although thermal collectors are efficient in providing high temperature results may vary in the days of diffuse light that is cloudy.

I find this article interesting? We tested dozens of DIY power and picked up the first 3 to save time. Visit [http://Earth4EnergyDaily.com] to see our top picks today!

To buy solar panels: what you should know

A solar cell is any device that converts energy into light directly into electricity by the photovoltaic process. The term literally means photovoltaic electricity. This created the first solar cell was made by selenium, but was very inefficient. The silicon solar cell was invented by Bell Labs in the 1950s, half originally designed for their industry. semiconductor . This process was the basis for all solar cell technologies.

In the 1950s, the solar panels were extremely inefficient-less than 2% efficiency rate. Modern systems are currently using photovoltaic thin film processes and technologies to effectively clear the output more than 20% efficiency. Due to the high cost of solar panels in 1960 most Sun products were reserved for the use of satellite technologies, Government, and space exploration. However, solar technology today can be found everywhere in both commercial and residential applications. The following is a list of descriptive based on solar cell technologies.

Polysilicon cells are cut by mudslides from molten Silicon boule and then cooled. Polycrystalline silicon cells are then developed into crystals that grow in different directions. These types of Silicon are slightly less efficient than monocrystalline. They are also considerably less expensive.

Monocrystalline silicon provides maximum efficiency of all kinds available but also the most expensive, therefore, is not necessarily the best choice for all houses. These types of Silicon are among the oldest, most common and most steadfast of technologies. They are visible on rooftops or along roadsides carrying power to isolated areas. Each unit is designed with a single crystal of silicon and tends to be more efficient and more costly than the modern unit of cheaper polysilicon. Ensnaring energy surfaces are silk screened cover of silicon wafer and solar cells are produced from there. Solar panels for homes using cells in monocrystalline silicon provide the highest efficiency available in the market today.

Unclassified Silicon is used to save on materials, but it is a very low quality and unclean and also produces a less-efficient solar panel. This process is widely used in Canada and sold to the United States and European markets.

Ribbon Silicon is created through a process that cost much less manufacturing techniques of traditional. Silicon in this process is made of tiny wafer, which helps to avoid the more expensive process of sawing the silicon to create cells. The growing edge defined film fed method starts with two seed crystals, forming a thin layer of Silicon-Silicon Ribbon. And though much less expensive to produce, the efficiency of the cell is almost always reduced.

Thin film solar panels or amorphous solar panels are not set in any standard precise and sometimes have problems with stability or structure. They are manufactured by spraying Silicon in a liquid on a glass substrate. The movie is far less expensive to produce but it is also less efficient as it degrades a lot when first exposed to light.

Solar technology of cadmium tellurium is another process resulting in less efficient panels that do not use silicon. It is created using a combination of zinc, cadmium and tellurium. Unfortunately the cadmium used is extremely toxic and causes cancer, that elevates concern in circles but is toxic when inhaled powder or cadmium is digested.

If you want to know more When you buy solar panels, then Read below:

FREE! "Discover the secrets to be capable of generating free power over the underground command using the technology on which desperately don't want to let you know"

That's right – the secret you are about to discover will show you exactly how to harness the power for free using a little-known, yet brutally efficient concept that was kept underground until now!

Just click on the link below and you will be taken the free special report:

Electricity in the home

Make your own Solar Panel-the science behind it

If you are interested in learning how to make your own Solar Panel, its interesting to know how photovoltaic solar cells actually work-i.e. the science behind it!

Solar photovoltaic (PV) cells are produced by thin silicon wafers that are interconnected to form a solar panel. When exposed to sunlight, the cells convert sunlight directly into energy in the form of electricity. When a number of these panels is connected together, form a solar array that is the main component of a solar powered system.

Photovoltaics is the direct conversion of light into electricity at the atomic level. Some materials such as Silicon exhibit a property known as the photoelectric effect. This property causes the material to absorb photons of light and release electrons. The resulting electric current is collected and used as electricity.

The French physicist, Edmund Becquerel first observed the photoelectric effect in 1839 when he discovered that certain materials would produce small amounts of electric current when exposed to light. It is perhaps more familiar with his son Henri Becquerel who discovered radioactivity and that the unit of measurement of radioactivity, the Becquerel.

The first photovoltaic module was made by Bell Laboratories in 1954. At that time, and was called a solar battery and was too expensive for widespread use. Like many other things in common use today, the Advanced photovoltaic cell space, therefore age. As technology advanced, the cost had declined and so did the accessibility. After the 1970s energy crisis, PV technology has gained recognition as a serious source of power for non-space applications.

The photovoltaic cell, or solar cell is better known as, is usually made of the same silicon chip used in semiconductor . Solar cell consists of a semiconductor thin wafer which is specially treated to form an electric field, positive on one side and negative on the other. When the Sun or other light hits the solar cell, electrons are knocked loose from the atoms semiconductor material. The two sides of the wafer are linked to form an electrical circuit. These electrons are then caught in the shape of an electric current (electricity). This electricity can be used to power the lights on your House or television.

In order to produce a realistic amount of electricity to the House, a number of solar cells is electrically connected to each other and mounted in a frame which is known as a photovoltaic module. The resulting current depends directly on how much light hits the module.

To make your own Solar Panel, these modules are then in turn connected together to form an array. These arrays can be connected in series or parallel arrangements to produce any combination of electric current and voltage required.

For more information, Download my free guide, page 22 Solar Energy Unleashed

Hopefully this article will stimulate your interest for make your own Solar Panel for your home.

Solar energy – when Will It be convenient for the average homeowner?

Introduction:

Global warming impact to our quality and cost of living is large and very catastrophic. Homeowners are well aware of the increasing energy costs to heat, cool and illuminate their homes. The increasing costs of oil and other fossil fuels are daily headlines. The insatiable demand for energy to fuel world growth guarantees that the cost of these limited fuels will continue to increase. Political/economic forces will determine the rate of increase for fossil fuels. In addition, the increasing cost of global warming using fossil fuels is slowly being recognized.

The world is slowly beginning to understand the urgent need for renewable energy sources. However, each of these alternative energy sources brings major advantages and disadvantages. An example is wind generated energy. Wind energy is available to the whole world and generates electricity competitively with fossil fuels. The technology is understood and easy to apply. But, there are big objections to a windmill in "my back yard". Also, the number of birds and bats that will be crushed with wind power generation is not a warming thought. Wind technology will be a component of our energy solution. However, because of the above concerns, we need other major solutions to meet our demand for energy sources.

This search leads us to solar energy. The amount of sun energy striking our world in one day is sufficient to supply our energy demands for a year. We will not run out of this source in the foreseeable future. The major barrier to harnessing solar energy has been cost and convenience. For example, drying clothes in a dryer is easier than hanging clothes on an outside line, thus convenience precluded efforts to find more energy efficiency. We can convert solar energy to electricity but with a major capital cost. Greater acceptance and use of solar energy will lead to lower cost.

Solar Energy:

Energy from solar energy can be divided into two major categories:

Passive Solar Energy: This technology ranges from clothes drying in the sun to solar heating for hot water and many other passive techniques. All are important for our present and future quality of life. The technology is well understood and can be implemented as economics and space conditions allow.

Active Solar Energy: One of the active solar energy technologies is converting solar energy directly into electricity. It is called photovoltaic cell or PV. This is a device that converts light into electricity using the photoelectric effect. The first working solar cells were constructed by Charles Fritts in 1883. These prototype cells were made of selenium and achieved efficiencies around one percent. The silicon solar cell was created in 1954. The solar cell has benefited from the development of silicon semiconductors.

Physics of Active Solar Energy:

The physics of photon to electricity conversion is well understood by physicists. The basic model is of a photon from the sun which strikes the cell material and excites electrons that emit electricity. This model is simple compared to the complexity of modern day semiconductors. The major variables of PV electrical generation are cell material and impurities in the cell material.

Manufacturing Technology for Active Solar Energy:

Primarily single crystal, high purity silicon has been used to generate photon to electricity conversion. The manufacturing techniques for single crystal silicon and limited quantities of pure silicon impose a high cost for PV devices. Shortages of refined silicon have been hampering production worldwide since late 2004. This shortage persists to this date and has slowed PV growth. New materials are starting to come forward which should lower the PV materials hurdle.

Efficiency growth of Active Solar Energy:

Since the silicon PV invention in 1954, cheaper fossil fuel prices largely removed solar power from the public consciousness. Annual growth of electrical generation by PV ranged from 10 to 20% percent throughout the 1980's and 1990's. Worldwide installation of PV reached 1000 megawatts in 1999. Manufacturing costs for PV arrays has been dropping 3 to 5% over the recent years. This cost drop began to expand the use of PV electricity generation. Total peak power of installed PV was around 6000 megawatts at the end of 2006. Installed PV is projected to increase to over 9,000 megawatts in 2007. The average lowest retail cost of large photovoltaic arrays has declined from $7.50 to $4.00 per watt between 1990 and 2005.

PV materials have also been improving in recent years. The most recent materials approach is to process discrete cells on silicon wafers cut from multi crystalline ribbons which form thin films. This approach is the least expensive of known technologies. This group of technologies includes amorphous silicon cells deposited on stainless-steel ribbon, cadmium telluride (CdTe) cells deposited on glass, and copper indium gallium dielenide (CIGS) alloy cells deposited on either glass or stainless steel substrates. The efficiencies of these new materials are currently at 20%. Many researchers are working to improve the efficiencies. An added advantage of the new thin films is that they are flexible and are currently being used in roofing materials.

Current Trends in Generating Active Solar Energy:

Commercial businesses like Google, IBM, BJ's Wholesale, Estee Lauder, Kohls, Target, Tiffany & Co., Wal-Mart are installing PV solar energy. From "big box" discount giants to high end commercial businesses PV solar energy is finding acceptance in 2007. The most recent retail-outfitter to become part of this trend is Macy's, which announced earlier this month that it will install solar powered systems on 26 stores throughout California. These leading companies are turning to solar power because it makes good business sense and supports their environmental initiative. Creative financial arrangements allow these companies to afford the upfront capital costs and payback their loans with energy savings. So what does all this mean to the average home owner? PV Cost per Kilowatt (kWh):

In the California market, where state incentives and net metering are in place, PV electricity prices are dipping below 11￠/kWh, on par with some utility-delivered power. Moreover, according to the U.S. PV Industry Roadmap, solar electricity will continue this trend and become competitive by 2010 for most domestic markets. The outlook is very positive for PV generation of electricity. Once the capital investment is made, the cost of PV electricity is equivalent to fossil fuels and will continue to decrease.

Cost of PV Installation:

The cost of installation is the major barrier that has to be overcome for widespread PV acceptance. Around 59% of world solar product sales installed in the last five years were applications that are tied to the electricity grid. Solar energy prices in these applications are 5-20 times more expensive than the cheapest source of conventional electricity generation. This premium is well beyond the reach of the average home owner.

Fortunately, there are financial models coming forward to enable the consumer to finance PV solar installation and pay for this installation with the electrical savings. In order to make these financial models successful, federal and state incentives are needed and the installation should be connected to the electrical grid. These connections allow the home owner to sell back electricity when excessive amounts are available and to receive electricity when solar conditions do not allow sufficient electricity. Only fifty percent of our states have modernized to allow on-grid PV solar energy.

Berkeley, California is leading the way to enable it citizens to save electrical cost and meet environmental needs. Here is how their plan works. A property owner hires a city-approved solar installer, who determines the best solar system for the property, depending on energy use. Most residential solar panel systems in the city cost from $15,000 to $20,000.

The city will pay the contractor for the system and its installation, minus any applicable state and federal rebates, and would add an assessment to the property owner's tax bill to pay for the system. The extra tax would include administrative fees and interest, which would be lower than what the property owner could obtain on their own, because the city would secure low-interest bonds and loans. The tax would stay with the property even if the owner sold, although the owner would have to leave the solar panels. The property owner would save money on monthly Pacific Gas & Electric bills because electricity generated by the solar panels would partly replace electricity delivered by the utility. After the assessment expired, the solar panels, of a simple technology that requires little or no maintenance, would continue to partly replace PG&E electricity.

The Berkeley plan is a map for the rest of the world to allow us affordable electricity and meet our responsibilities to the environment.

I have a BS and MS in Metallurgical Engineering. Thirty six years spent in the development of semiconductors. Business experience in start up business plan. Currently, an oyster farmer and interested in helping the environment by deploying solar energy. Please visit my Blog [http://environmentalhelp.typepad.com/] for further discussions.