The Technologies Of Solar Energy
In a time when renewable energy resources are being developed in a world-wide effort to reduce the harmful effects we are having on our planet, solar energy is a very popular resource being captured in many forms to reduce our dependency upon electricity.Solar power is concentrated in four major technologies which are wrestling for dominance in its applications throughout the world. These solar advances include Solar thermal, Concentrated photovoltaic, Thin-film photo voltaics, and Crystalline photo voltaics. Each has great potential and certain limitations but their boundaries are widening as their respective technology advances.
Solar Thermal involves the use of panels to collect solar energy to an intense level that can heat water to boiling point. The resulting steam is then used to drive turbines. A primary disadvantage of solar energy is the consistent supply of sunlight to the grid Night fall and cloud cover reduces solar supply, meaning that even in the sunniest regions there’s no guarantee of solar energy supply .Solar thermal technologies have advanced to bypass this limitation by: 1) Using molten salt to store the sun’s heat overnight, then converting it to steam then powering the turbines long after the sun has set, or 2) Through integration of a biomass or even fossil fuel generator to power the turbines when weather conditions are not optimal to be solar generated.Solar thermal energy enthusiasts also insist that despite high overhead and equipment costs, desert solar thermal farms promise to be far more cost effective than PV systems.
Concentrated Photo Voltaic is a newer technology using mirrors to concentrate the sun's rays on to PV cells. Supporters claim it has a high field durability and about 25 per cent efficiency. This format is ideal for regions with plenty of sunlight and higher temperatures such as desert regions. On the down side, it is inefficient at converting indirect light into energy and thus not suitable for areas commonly used to plenty of cloud cover.Concentrator panels consist mainly of aluminum and glass, while the PV cells can be gallium indium-based so construction of the technology is not necessarily reliant on currently stretched silicon supplies. Supporters claim it is already relatively cost competitive, creating energy at less than 15 US cents per watt. This technology also does not utilize water, also making it attractive for desert climates.
Crystalline Photo Voltaics The most cost efficient and widespread use of solar energy is arguably through the development and use of Crystalline PV panels. These panels are commonly used for decentralized installations, home generation, and are commonly seen in commercial and residential rooftop installations. These silicon-based crystalline solar panels remain the most popular solar application, although newer technologies are quickly developing and gaining ground.The manufacturing costs of the PV panels remain lower than newer technologies despite concerns regarding the supply of silicon that may drive up costs in the future. Field experts indicate otherwise stating that manufacturers are maneuvering to maintain control over their silicon supply chains and combined with advancing manufacturing techniques, believe prices should continue to fall in the long term.The panels have a uniform black appearance and are most preferred for rooftop installations. They are reliable for about 20 years and have about four per cent degradation. They are more space efficient than their thin-film solar panel counterparts and their supporters insist that if installed in the right position and climate, they offer payback periods over five years. This application has been available for over 30 years and production costs continue to reduce.
Thin-film Photo Voltaics Thin film is a modernized solar technology, but many experts believe it may indicate the future of solar energy. Some expect this newer sector to account for a third of all PV production by 2012.A variety of thin-film technologies are now available, anywhere from more traditional silicon and glass systems to the innovative copper indium gallium selenide cells.These thin-film cells are particularly spectacular at converting indirect sun light – this is the same process used in solar-powered calculators – and are therefore ideal for locations where cloud cover is more prevalent.Thin-film cells can also be produced through the use of printing press-style manufacturing techniques, meaning that they could be produced more efficiently and in a more cost-effective manner than their more established rivals.Meanwhile, the flexible and lighter nature of many thin-film technologies indicates that they are more likely to be applied in a wide-ranging number of different applications, ranging anywhere from solar windows to solar clothing. Right now thin film may be relatively expensive and not yet efficient, but millions of dollars are being invested in firms who intend to mainstream this promising technology.
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Back To Top The Growth And Potential of Solar Energy
Selecting The RIght Solar Lights
Now that you have made a decision to use solar lights for your landscaping beautification and display needs you are already avoiding many other more difficult potential roadblocks and expenses. By installing traditional lighting you need to worry about proper use of electricity and how to arrange your display according to the electrical considerations. Selecting solar adds a lot more flexibility to your display options and without having to hire an electrician for a small ransom to make sure that you meet code and to insure the safety of your home Solar lights are becoming very popular in our eco-conscious society and many solar light fixtures are very reasonably priced, typically paying for themselves with ease when considering there will never be a power bill associated with your solar landscape lights. Solar lights are easily installed and offer plenty of flexibility as they can be relocated with ease. You determine where they are to be set, not your proximity to an outlet. When solar lights first hit the market many years ago they were generally very dim and frankly, not overly reliable. They have advanced remarkably with the development of ultra-bright LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) which have replaced the original filaments bulbs that were traditional to solar fixtures. These LEDs are able to generate substantial amounts of light without emitting heat like their original predecessors. This allows for more efficient operation resulting in a reliable and long-lasting light bulb.
Additional advances in solar lighting include the efficient and cost conscious Photo Voltaic cell (PV Cells). This improved solar technology, with more efficient batteries, can generate light on a year-round basis despite colder weather and shorter days, without sacrificing performance. When you are ready to purchase solar lights remember that they have varying functions and intensities to match multiple purposes. There are three primary outside solar lighting categories to consider: accent lights, pathway lights, and spotlights.
Accent Lights: Accent lights are a great landscape accessory as they provide a simple glow to your landscape features. They are designed to provide a low level illumination not as a safety feature. With this lower output, accent lights often last longer than other styles of solar landscape lighting. Also these lights can often operate for multiple nights on a single day’s charge. Another bonus for these accent lights is their ability to charge even on cloudy days or in areas partially covered by shade. Another element to consider is the color or shade of the accent light’s LED. White LEDs are brighter than amber colored lights which provide even softer lighting. As a result amber uses less electricity resulting in longer illumination times. Accent lights are very useful for many landscape features such as highlighting attractive features around your yard or property or to highlight possible hazards that could be stumbled upon at night. Overall accent lights provide the lowest output of all the solar lights and are the most affordable.
Pathway Lights: It’s obvious that the primary purpose of this solar light category is to illuminate pathways, driveways, sidewalks, and other elongated areas that are part of your landscape. These lights are often displayed in uniformity with multiple fixtures lining the edges of the specific path. Often these lights are installed or mounted on stakes that are inserted directly into the ground. Many will hang off the stakes or have a direct attachment for display. Often there are multiple display options or positioning options but the purpose most often is to illuminate downwards. Some of the path style lights include on-off switches allowing for the conservation of energy and a lengthy run time. More sophisticated models may include color lenses, timers, or allow for varying levels power use. These lights fall in the medium range among solar lights for both light output and cost.
Spotlights: Spotlights are the brightest category of solar lights and are most often the most expensive. They are made to supply a bright beam of light on your home or landscape features. Although they are brighter and more intense than the other solar lights, they certainly are not as strong as an electric flood light. Top-quality solar lights with strong LEDs can produce a beam comparable to a 40-watt incandescent spotlight.. Not bad for a completely eco-friendly light that is free to operate. Many of these solar spotlights are flexible with multiple display or mounting options and should include the necessary hardware for all available options. Also the solar panel can be adjusted or mounted separately so the light may shine in any direction. With this application the solar panel can be mounted where sunlight is constant while the light fixture can be mounted where the light is needed after the sun sets. The spotlights are usually very durable with the most heavily constructed fixtures.
An added benefit of using solar lights featuring LEDs is their ability to emit brighter light as the temperature drops. This is due to the solid design of the LEDs. In this matter solar lights are a great choice compared to low voltage landscape lights or fluorescent lights which operate poorly as the temperature drops. LEDs also have an average life span of 100,000 hours compared to 3,000 hours for the typical incandescent light. Solar lighting is an outstanding option for the home gardener and the do-it-yourselfer. There are many brands and types that should meet all of your outdoor lighting needs.
Other Solar Energy Articles: The Technologies Of Solar Energy
Back To Top The Growth And Potential Of Solar Energy
The Growth And Potential Of Solar Energy
Although the use of solar energy is steadily growing in a global capacity as the eco-friendly benefits and outputs continue to be expressed, it is our own reservations about the potentials of solar power to equate to or surpass our current dependence upon fossil fuels. Our planet is just now scratching the surface of the possibilities available through solar technology developments. The sun provides enough daily energy to supply our needs for power, however solar energy is not yet viewed as a primary energy resource. Just like you could not harness every raindrop in a storm to gather in a pond, we also can’t possibly collect all of the solar energy emitted by the sun on a daily basis. However, by developing highly efficient and advanced solar plants, we could certainly meet our daily needs for power. With any new technology that contradicts the norm and challenges all of the integrated support systems that exist, it will take a great deal of education to sway the pendulum, in this case towards the further developments of solar energy usage. The conversion to solar energy requires up-front costs but the benefits of protecting our environment and our quality of life will be the emphasis of promoting this awesome natural resource.
The current solar cell technologies are effective in capturing solar energy. Most panels are able to store up to 15% of the sun’s energy from direct contact throughout the day. This seems like a low percentage but considering the amount of energy emitted by the sun on a clear day, this is quite impressive. It would seem that the clean energy alternative offered by solar technologies compared to the harmful effects of our extensive fossil fuel would lead towards a very quick conversion to solar sources and massive developments of solar cells. Like many changes it all revolves around money as the conversion to solar requires a significant initial investment, probably at least $10,000 or more up front. For the system to pay for itself, the homeowner will need to reside in his home for several years. The average American household will utilize at least 1,000 kilowatts each month.
A high-quality home solar system will often include a 5-year warranty and a great percentage of this system should extend well beyond that period of time. Considering a $10,000 solar system investment this would indicate an average annual cost of about $2,000 or $167 per month to supply your household with the power it needs. For many households the average monthly costs of solar is below their current electrical costs. Additionally, the homeowner is then protected from rate hikes and other hidden fees often incorporated by power companies. Besides monetary savings, the environmental benefits are obvious as solar is a completely clean energy source and dependable. Many power companies are offering customers payment incentives to convert their homes to solar use.
Although household solar systems are quickly gaining in popularity, as measured in the tremendous additions to the power grid over the past decade, it is far from growing at a pace that would enable solar energy to be the major energy source in the U.S.
Many other nations are engaged in developing solar energy as a viable alternative to our extensive use of fossil fuel produced sources. Countries like Germany and Japan are offering governmental incentives for citizens willing to install solar receptors for home use. Like the U.S. these countries also receive monetary incentives by the power companies for solar conversions when excessive electricity is generated by solar systems then sold back to the power company. All of these benefits are marketed to influence homeowners to initialize solar usage in their home. As more homeowners take on the investment in solar the environment benefits and the electricity companies are able to stabilize loads placed on their power grids.
Other Solar Energy Articles: The Technologies Of Solar Energy
Back to Top Selecting The RIght Solar Lights
