Great Trends in Solar Panels and Solar Energy

The worldwide awareness and campaigning on the  threat of environmental imbalance and polluted energy resources has made public opinion in favour of safe and clean environment . The corporate and industrial sector is not averse to cause of environmental safety. This is reflected  from the new  technologies for alternative use of energy  resources. Solar energy is fast catching up as a most viable option of alternative energy owing to its non-polluting and inexhaustible  nature. Solar panel is a wonder-tool in this concern which is unleashing a silent revolution which is visible in various spectrum and colours.

Retail Houses Up-link With Solar Energy

Now  solar energy panels are not a object limited only to the vast farmhouses in the  countryside. The great idea of adopting the eco-friendly and economical solar energy has already dawned upon the minds of big corporate houses. This is attested by the view of solar panels spotting the rooftops of retail house buildings. A substantial reduction in the energy needs cost is assured in case of business houses who welcome the solar energy. In addition to cutting down the  tax bills , solar power is safe and human-friendly.

Solar Panels in Print Form

Now solar energy panels for harnessing the sunlight are also present in form of print sheets. This has been made possible by the efforts of Konarka Technologies in association with Massachusetts based  research  team. These panels have been framed on a  technology analogous to the  inkjet printing technology . Important thing  is that these panels can be mounted on any surface or printed directly onto a surface . This innovation is going to make the solar panel a light weight and easy to install tool unlike those bulky and heavy frames of solar panels commonly found.

Solar Energy Powered Mobile Phones

Soon it will be unnecessary to rely on th electrical charging of the cellular phones. The solar panel meant for powering the functioning of the mobile phone is built on the straps attached to the mobile phones. Such type of technology is at present initiated by Strap ya company with brand name Solar Charge EC.

Solar Panels to Power Space Vehicles

the latest state of the art technology research has made it reality to visualize the space travel without depending upon propellant fuel as energy source. The special purpose solar  panels in this case are based on silicon fusion linked amorphous material. An alteration in the existing norm of propellant based spacecraft engine is mandatory along with the compliance with solar panel system. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), New York reportedly have entered into  a contract with United Solar Ovonic in this concern.  Once completed the project will be  a great step in direction of clean and cost-effective space travel for astronomical purposes and airships.

Solar Panels on Fabrics

It is very interesting of thinking  clothes enabled with solar panels for using up the sunlight around. With the concerted   research work of Japanese scientists this is no less than a reality. The  solar panel laden fabrics are based on extremely thin solar cell panel and  render  the  properties like easily molding and colorfulness with equal aesthetic appeal as normal cloth.

Home Solar Energy Systems and the Photoelectric Effect (part 9)

In the article that follows, we will explain in how a residential solar (PV) cell converts photons of sunlight into household electrical currents. This process is called the photoelectric effect. We will also explain the physical characteristics of how silicon moves electrons through various states to produce household solar electric power.



Einstein was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on the photoelectric effect, not for his work on relativity. Little did one know that the same people who helped us calculate everything under the sun is also the same person helping to bring renewable solar energy to the masses.



Solar Electricity and the Photoelectric Effect



The photoelectric effect is a key concept, since it is the way sunlight is converted into free electrons as light interacts with the solar cell. Without the creative work of Albert Einstein, the physical characteristics of sunlight might not be known. Never mind the impact and Earth-altering opportunities to power your home using solar generated electricity that his ideas inspired all these years later.



Think of sunlight not as a wave but as a beam of photon particles for the purposes of explain the technical details of how home solar energy systems work. These bundles of energy penetrate the silicon lattice structure inside the solar cells making up a home solar panel and transfer their energy to an electron in the outer layer of the silicon atom.



When a single electron gains enough energy from the penetrating photons, it breaks free and floats around the lattice structure, no longer bonded. An electron has a negative charge when it is knocked free during the photoelectric effect. The silicon atom that loses the electron, which had a neutral charge with the electron, now has a positive charge without it. Remember back to high school chemistry. Suddenly, these classes seem relevant when learning about solar generated electricity. Who would have known?



When an electron is removed from this lattice structure or matrix in this fashion, it creates a hole in the outer layer of the lattice where the electron was. A nearby electron with a negative charge soon fills the hole. The electron that moves in has a positive charge. It can be described like the balancing of an equation; i.e. when one silicon electron consisting of a negative charge is transferred in...another particle, in this case an electron with a positive charge, is bumped out and moves out.



As photons of sunlight penetrate the silicon and knock electrons loose they transfer their energy. Negative electrons are forced to move into nearby holes and positive holes appear where electrons once were. This photoelectric effect works because of the one-directional flow of positive and negative electrons. This flow of electrons produces the electrical current used in everyday use. The one way or single direction that the silicon electrons is produced when the sunlight, which is really photons of energy, repeatedly hit the silicon solar cells inside the PV panels making up the home solar power unit.



Incredibly enough, this process is the secret sauce that allows electricity to be produced from ordinary sunlight. It is Albert Einstein's discovery, called the photoelectric effect, that makes solar electric energy possible. The average homeowner can now buy or rental home solar energy systems and generate useful electricity for their house.

Solar Contractors - How To Find A Reliable Solar Power Installer

It's not difficult to see the appeal of using solar power to meet our domestic energy needs: it utilizes a natural energy source (the sun) and thereby avoids any environmental damage that can result from the energy being generated via traditional means. The use of solar power for the home has become increasingly prevalent in recent years and particularly in dry landscapes that have an abundance of sunshine such as Australia or the state of California. For the majority of home owners however, installing a solar heating system without professional assistance is not a viable option. There are a number of things to consider such as adequate cable size, correct fusing (every circuit should be protected by a fuse or circuit breaker), the positioning of batteries and the correct positioning of the solar panels. Attempting to do all this by yourself and not getting it exactly right will result in a less than optimum performance of your solar power system. As such, it is prudent to call on the assistance of a solar power installer or solar contractor.



The question that then arises is: "How do I go about finding a reliable solar power installer?" There is help at hand depending on where you happen to be located. The California Energy Commission maintains a list of registered installers on its Web site. California's solar rebates are available only to homeowners who use installers registered with the state, and all those contractors listed on the commission's Web site will qualify. You could also check the membership roster of the California Solar Energy Industries Association, the trade organization representing solar power installers. Similarly, homeowners in Oregon wishing to receive Energy Trust's incentives must have their system installed by an Energy Trust approved contractor. The Oregon Department of Energy maintains a list of tax credit-certified solar technicians. Many state-certified solar technicians are also Energy Trust trade ally contractors.



In Australia, in order to qualify for the solar power rebate, the person who carries out the installation of the solar panels must be accredited for design and installation of photovoltaic systems by the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE). A list of BCSE accredited designers and installers is available from the Clean Energy Council - or alternately you could contact a designer/installer and ask for proof of their accreditation.



As is always the case when dealing with any type of contractor, personal attention and responsiveness are important. If you find that one solar contractor seems to be able to communicate more clearly and is more responsive than others, you will probably want to take this into consideration when making your choice. Ultimately you want to be able to deal with a contractor that can design a system for your home, sell you the solar modules and install them. To do this you will need to find a contractor that has a good track record and a load of good references. The longevity of their business is also important as you'd want to be able to go back to the same installer in the future, should you experience any problems.

Solar Panels for Sufficient Energy for our Domestic as Well as Industrial Purposes

Solar Panels are the simplest form of technology for making the best use of renewable energy. The Sun is considered as the ultimate source for energy for all living forms on earth.





As known widely, on a bright sunny day, the sun supplied around 1000 watts of energy on every square meter of earth’s surface. The most appropriate method to conserve fuel sources and yet produce sufficient energy for our domestic as well as industrial purposes is to collect this solar energy. Solar Panels are devices that collect and convert this solar energy from sun and convert into electricity and heat.





The working of Solar Panels is very simple and easy to understand. The total structure consists of three major components namely Photovoltaic module, solar thermal collector and solar hot water panel. The photovoltaic cell in the Solar panels is responsible for producing electricity from sunrays. Alternatively, the thermal collector holds the sun heat and is used for heating purposes. The Solar water panel is a distinct mechanism that is used for water heating function in homes. To transform heat from sun light into usable forms, Solar panels employ modular array systems which are wired jointly in expandable design. Abundant exposure to sunlight and correct installation of Solar Panels is all that one needs to receive a free flow of electricity and reduction in huge electric bills at home.





The inclusion of Photovoltaic(PV) cells and Solar panels in households and industrial set ups is a part of the solar revolution that has occurred all over the world since 2 decades. Latest research shows two different mechanisms to make use of solar energy. They are:





Solar water heating collectors: These kinds of Solar panels absorb direct solar energy and utilize it in heating water.





Solar electric or PV cells: such panels convert solar radiation into direct current.





For maximum efficiency, it is advised to mount Solar panels on a roof that faces south at an angle of 30 degrees. The surface of the solar panels should avoid any shadows or objects that block its direct interaction with sunrays. Solar panels are a smart way to conserve household electricity and wastage of fuels hence producing required energy from the ever free warm rays from the sun.





To get a better understanding on the working of Solar panels and other features, log on to http://www.techstore.ie/Renewable-Energy/Solar-Energy/Solar-Water-Heating.htm