October 22, 2010
New Developments in Solar Technology are Promising
Solar power has always been the renewable energy source that captures the imagination. Free, instant electricity with no moving parts and nothing to wear out –you just point your panel at the sun and plug in. It’s such a wonderful concept that it’s always been in the back of every renewable energy ecogeek’s mind. On top of that, it’s a commonly quoted figure that the sun blasts the earth with enough energy in an hour to produce a year’s worth of electricity. It all sounds very promising and seductive; the problem is that solar panels just aren’t very efficient. In fact most modern solar panels are only able to convert around 25% of the energy that hits them into electricity. That’s not very much and because of that solar panels just haven’t been very successful when it comes to development as a means of mass power generation.
But wait – there’s more! That’s not the only thing that is having a negative effect on the popularity of solar power. The other issue (and probably the killing stroke) is expense. Solar panels use components and materials (gold, to name one) that are extremely expensive. Because of that, the panels are very costly. The truth of the matter is that not everyone is committed enough to alternative energy that they have desire to shell out thousands of dollars to purchase a machine that only does its job at ¼ to 1/3 efficiency.
However, that may all change very soon. Say Hello to the next generation of Solar Technology: Quantum-Dot Photovoltaics. These next-generation solar panels use a new type of nano-textured crystals mounted on a silicone substrate that is able to achieve a whopping 66% total efficiency. That means that 2/3 of the solar energy that they absorb is able to be converted into electricity – over double the effectiveness of their predecessors. In addition, new developments with the technology have successfully swapped the conductive material necessary from gold to nickel, which makes them 80% cheaper. These figures are the most encouraging developments in the solar industry in years. It’s big news for renewable energy; if the panels are able to be produced and implemented on a wide scale, perhaps the dream of deploying effective and rewarding solar power projects is something that can be achieved.
However, that may all change very soon. Say Hello to the next generation of Solar Technology: Quantum-Dot Photovoltaics. These next-generation solar panels use a new type of nano-textured crystals mounted on a silicone substrate that is able to achieve a whopping 66% total efficiency. That means that 2/3 of the solar energy that they absorb is able to be converted into electricity – over double the effectiveness of their predecessors. In addition, new developments with the technology have successfully swapped the conductive material necessary from gold to nickel, which makes them 80% cheaper. These figures are the most encouraging developments in the solar industry in years. It’s big news for renewable energy; if the panels are able to be produced and implemented on a wide scale, perhaps the dream of deploying effective and rewarding solar power projects is something that can be achieved.
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