With the current concentration on global warming, the existence of which is denied by only a few naysayers, developments in solar power are moving at a pace to fill the need for efficient green solutions to our seemingly insatiable desire for energy.
The failure of solar power to be more widely adopted to date seems primarily to be due to cost concerns, where the payback periods are now quoted to be 7+ years, and thus beyond the normal financial horizon for many potential participants, whose average occupancy of any particular house is expected to be 7 years. When a lower cost can be achieved, the benefits of mass production will cause a snowball effect in purchasing systems, and that time would seem to be drawing closer.
Durham University in the UK, ever photovoltaic solar research project, with more than $12M to be spent in the next four years, starting in April. The principal investigator, Professor Ken Durose, has committed to "make a major contribution to achieving competitive photovoltaic solar energy". Nine industrial partners and eight institutions will be involved in the project, which is aimed at reducing the thickness, and thus cost, of solar cells.
Much as this may seem to be a promising advance, an alternative approach is being adopted by commercial interests, in the form of a company called G24i which is also in the UK, in Wales. They have developed what are called fourth generation solar cells, which are a thin-film product, the latest buzzword in the solar marketplace.
Their invention is a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC), which is, simply, printing a thin layer of titanium oxide on to a thin-film of metal foil, and then performing some molecular manipulations to achieve the desired reaction to light. The product is manufactured on a roll-to-roll process, similar to that used in the textile industry. They commenced production last year, and are planning to expand this year to a production capacity of 200 Megawatts.
The process by which DSSC works has been compared to that of photosynthesis in plants, and it is more sensitive than conventional silicon cells, producing electricity from a wider range of the light spectrum and lower levels of lighting. It is very flexible and one-fiftieth of the weight of conventional glass silicon cells, and can even be produced in designer colors! The initial market is for devices that could not be made with the older technology, supplying power for portable electronics, particularly for mobile phones in the developing world.
With a growth in the traditional solar cell market of 35% per annum, and a continuing global shortage of silicon projected up to 2010, G24i would seem to be very well placed to take away business from the conventional suppliers. Their technology is available at much lower cost, and expansion would seem to be limited only by their ability to grow in a controlled manner.
On what seems to be a more esoteric front, it's reported that scientists are considering the possibility of a space engineering project that would dwarf any other that has been attempted to date. While the sheer size of the project would require governments to take the first steps at an international level, researchers from the USA, Europe and Japan are proposing building giant solar arrays in orbit and beaming the energy to Earth.
Lieutenant Colonel Paul Damphousse of the Pentagon has spoken of the need for "hundreds of sorties every week" in order to move the tons of material that would be required. A recent study by the Pentagon concluded that such a project was nearly technologically possible right now, and that robots could be used to facilitate the construction in space. More realistically, perhaps, Leopold Summerer of the European Space Agency has projected that the generation of power in space may be about 20 years away, but the concept is being actively pursued.
Finally, what may prove to be the most promising current development in solar energy has just been announced by Global Warming Solutions, Inc. of Houston. Successful tests have been conducted on hybrid solar modules, which produce both heat and electricity from one unit. The combined efficiency of the modules is reported to reach 85%, significantly better than the 40%+, then a record, achieved a year ago by Spectrolab using concentrator solar cells to produce electricity only.
The technologies used include some originally developed for industrial lasers, stated Dr. Alexander Kornaraki, the COO. "The quantum pump separates the heat and the electrical photons of the incident solar light", giving the most efficient spectra to the photovoltaic process. The modules produce up to 28 Watts of electricity and 93 Watts of heat per square foot. The projected payback period is no more than five years.
Global Warming Systems have several pilot systems, and one with 108 square feet of panels provides 100% of the energy, both electrical and heating, to a single family home. Even more promising, these panels are efficient even as far north as Alaska, which is a new achievement for the industry.
Learn more about Solar Power and how you can use it to produce electric power, to heat, or even cool your home!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=George_Nikolaou
The Future of Solar Energy
Top 8 Solar Power Advantages
Solar panels deliver solar power electricity. With prices of photovoltaic cells going down, solar power advantages are really compelling.
With the prices of non-renewable energy resources going up everyday, it has become important to use renewable resources, like energy from sunlight. When a comparison is done between advantages and disadvantages of sunlight-based energy, advantages easily outnumber the disadvantages.
Here are the Top 8 solar power advantages:
1) Renewable and Reliable: Solar energy is a renewable and can be considered reliable as long as sun continues to shine on the earth. Also amongst all the renewable energy resources, energy from sun has the highest density.
2) Versatile Use: One of the key solar power advantages is that it can be used to run versatile devices like cars, boats, satellites, aircrafts, ships, batteries, Mobiles and laptops amongst several others.
3) Low Maintenance: Since photovoltaic cells and panels do not contain any moving parts, there is very little maintenance required for running photovoltaic cells. These cells have a long life with only cleaning required twice a year.
4) Adaptability: One more of the very special solar power advantages is that it can be provided at places where grid supply cannot be extended like in space, island communities, ships, desolate regions, mountain tops and other isolated places where sunshine is available.
5) Clean Energy: Solar power electricity is also clean and environment friendly with little or no pollution and no emissions or greenhouse effects. Also generation of electricity from sun does not produce any noise pollution.
6) Financial Advantage: Amongst all the solar power advantages, if you were told that making money is a big advantage, would you believe it? Yes if you generate more energy than what you consume, you can sell your excess to the grid. Also governments all over the world are providing incentives and tax breaks for adopting natural energy solutions.
7) Emergency Effective: Solar power electricity can be generated even under emergency conditions like storms and floods.
8) Do It Yourself: The biggest of all the solar power advantages is the fact that solar power electricity solution can be implemented by yourself using a step by step instruction manual at a low cost. You can reduce or eliminate your electricity bills and become a energy generator for supply to the grid.
Krishnan Varadarajan is an Infrastructure Consultant with focus on alternate energy systems. If you want to quickly implement a low cost, proven and tested, solar power electricity solution for your home yourself, visit http://www.know-to.com/energy/solar.html
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Krishnan_Varadarajan
The solar plane.
This video shows the new solar plane:
See more at: Solar plane makes record flight
"A UK-built solar-powered plane has set an unofficial world endurance record for a flight by an unmanned aircraft.
The Zephyr-6, as it is known, stayed aloft for more than three days, running through the night on batteries it had recharged in sunlight.
The flight was a demonstration for the US military, which is looking for new types of technology to support its troops on the ground.
Craft like Zephyr might make ideal platforms for reconnaissance.
They could also be used to relay battlefield communications.
Chris Kelleher, from UK defence and research firm QinetiQ, said Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) offer advantages over traditional aircraft and even satellites. "
Best Solar Energy Commercial Ever video
A very nice demonstration of the amount of energy stored at the sun's energy.
enjoy:
Selling Solar Power RV Products
The beauty of having an RV is the freedom to go just about anywhere you can drive it. The beauty of selling solar power RV products is that they allow those freedom seekers to have the convenience of power just about anywhere the sun shines! That includes the boondocks where people vent ure to avoid overcrowded campgrounds. Today, with consumers demanding ecologically safe products, staying nearer to home for travel, and cutting expenses on all fronts, the RV accessory market is ready for solar power products and their advantages. Solar meets all those requirements: it does no harm to the environment (just soaks up the sunshine), it saves the wild environment from the destruction of invasive power lines, it allows RV users to stay closer to home but access more remote territory because they can carry their power source with them, and finally, it saves money. You don't have to pay for electric use, ever. On the money front, some solar equipment does have a heavier front end expense than traditional equipment, but the running expenses are virtually zero. You can power anything with solar that you can with traditional power sources. Solar batteries are designed in smaller sizes for the RV market. Kits for solar RV power are sold in a variety of sizes, up to 110 watts. They are easy to install. Systems can be made more powerful with optional expansion modules. Complete basic smaller starter systems are priced from about $600 to about $1100, according to power levels. More complex systems for larger RV use list price up to $10,000. Typical kits may include, as needed, solar panels, inverters, fusing, charge controllers, wiring, switches, mounting kits and instructions. Higher wattage means faster charging of batteries. It also means more sales for the person selling solar power RV products including storage batteries. More panels also means more sales of wiring, and charge controllers. Over time, people usually settle on what they need, but once used to the convenience of solar power, they remain loyal customers. Portable solar panels offer convenience because you can move them from a shady spot into the sunny areas if needed. They also are attractive to nearby campers, and help spread the word about solar RV power. Selling solar power RV products is extending into a large consumer market with smaller size availability, another good opportunity. Solar power accessories come in very small sizes, like 5 watt foldable solar panels, which can power items like GPS, cell phones, fish finders and other personal electronics. The 5, 10 and 20 watt unbreakable solar thin flexible panels are becoming popular, even seen on fishing kayaks and on backpacks. Average solar panel life is expected to be twenty-five years, with some estimates upwards to forty years. Even then they should still produce 80% of their capacity. Bringing solar power to the boondocks has finally come of age in the RV market. It's time to get on board the solar power beam and diversify your RV solar product line-up.
Edward Dean is an accomplished website developer and author. To learn more about solar-power-rv-products visit RV Franchising for current articles and discussions.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Edward_Dean
How to Make Solar Panels and Save Yourself Money
Stop using regular sources for energy and start using renewable resources! Solar power is one of the best renewable resources that you can use out there, as well as one of the most reliable. While it's been around for quite a few years, not too many people know how to use it, or when you should use it. The truth is that you can use it for anything. The bad part about it? It's relatively expensive to purchase, however; there are more cost-effective ways to get solar power - You can build your own solar panels!
Building your own solar panels is easier than you think. You can get most of the supplies to do it from a hardware store, making it a cost-effective way to get access to solar power. These little solar panels that you build can be used to power things around the house, such as small appliances.
The biggest benefit to building your own solar panel? You have the potential to cut your power costs, as well as get access to a luxury that is normally somewhat costly. Not only that, but you get the pleasure of building something that you know is contributing to the environment by conserving energy.
How easy is it to build solar panels? All you need is a full set of detailed instructions, your supplies, and some extra time on your hands. You'll be able to assemble everything yourself. The most important thing about building your own solar panels is knowing that you have a great set of instructions to follow. Without these, you might not make the most out of the solar panels you build, but with them, you will be able to gain the most from your solar panels!
Need detailed instructions on how to build your own solar panels? You can find out more with this guide. Start building a solar panel today and save energy tomorrow!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bryan_Hufford
5 Great Reasons To Use Solar Power
More and more people today are now looking for alternative ways of providing power to their homes. Because we are becoming more aware of what is happening to the environment because of the omissions of CO2 in to the air we are becoming much greener. This is why many people are now looking to use alternative and more natural ways of supplying power to their homes. Below we look at some of the reasons to use solar power.
The great thing about having a solar powered energy system in your home is that it can provide you with electricity during an emergency. Plus if required they can be used to provide additional power to your home at times when the electricity loads become critical during the winter months.
Along with solar power being able to supply all the electricity to your home to run all equipment, appliances etc., within it or just for emergencies. There are other reasons why you may consider wanting to use solar power in the future and below we show you what some of these are.
1. The biggest reason for using solar power to provide energy to your home is that it will never run out unlike fossil fuels (gas and coal) are likely to. In fact, the amount of solar energy that the earth receives each minute of each day is far more than the energy that we around the globe use in fossil fuels each year.
2. As mentioned above at the beginning of this article solar power is actually good for the environment, as it does not emit any kind of pollution.
3. Another big reason for a person to use solar power over any kind of type of energy supply is that it does not cost any thing to transport it. In fact the solar power panels can be located close (on top of the roof of the property) and then supplied directly into it.
4. If you want you can actually store up the energy that your solar powered system is collecting in order to use it a later time. However although it is more expensive to store the energy that to use it straight away it is great to have a backup supply for emergency situations.
5. When used in connection with other technologies or energy supplies solar power can be extremely useful. By having additional solar power in your home you could cut down the costs you pay to your electrical supplier, which in turn means that you are actually doing your bit to helping the environment.
Certainly as you will soon discover along with the reasons to use solar power that we have mentioned above. If you carry out further research for yourself you will discover plenty of other reasons why using an alternative power supply source such, as this is so good.
Solar Power is Catching on in Louisville, KY
Lack of Kentucky state incentives for renewable energy did not deter Tim Darst and Angela Lincoln from investing and installing in a grid-tied photovoltaic (P.V.) system for their home in a Highlands neighborhood. Tim is an active member of the Coalition to Advance Regional Transportation (C.A.R.T.) and an accountant by trade.
for a comprehensive energy audit prior to making the choice to go solar. The audit identified several more areas for improvements in efficiency. SunWind Power then designed a system based on their monthly average usage of 375 kilowatt hours and was able to size a P.V. system to meet Tim and Angela’s needs. The system consists of 11 solar panels manufactured by Evergreen, an American based company. The panels were mounted with a Unirac, a rack custom engineered to handle wind load for the region. Each panel has a capacity of 180 watts, and the system capacity is 2.0 kilowatts. The couple is very satisfied with their system.
Sunwind Power Systems provides energy solutions for residents in Kentucky and Indiana. The company will be moving ahead on efforts to install their own grid-tied solar water heating system and wind turbine on the property after recently reaching an agreement for net metering with their local utility cooperative, Harrison R.E.M.C. More information can be obtained at http://www.sunwindpowerinc.com/.
2008 is the Year of Solar Energy, According to New Changewave Survey
"Keep your face to the sunshine..." -- Helen Keller
No matter where you look, alternative energy is the topic du jour. Driven by the economics of record-high crude oil, the spotlight is shifting to non-traditional renewable energy sources, particularly solar power.
To find out what's going on with solar energy and the other renewable energy sources, we recently surveyed 182 respondents working directly in the alternative energy industry.
Solar Leads - Solar energy continues to show the most momentum of all alternative energy segments, according to industry respondents. Not only has it shown strong gains since our previous survey in February 2007, but it also leads in each of the following areas:
* Most Rapid Economic Growth - Past 12 Months: When asked which alternative energy sector has experienced the fastest growth over the past year, solar energy (49%) topped the list - up a whopping 14-pts since our previous survey in February. In comparison, Biomass - including biofuels and bio-products - came in at 41%.
* Most Rapid Economic Growth - Next 12-24 Months: Going forward, respondents see solar energy (58%; up 20-pts) as experiencing the most rapid growth in the industry for the next one-to-two years.
* Most Momentum - Next 5 Years: Over the long term, solar energy also retains its strength, as 31% of respondents (up 5-pts) say it will be the top sector for the next half decade.
In sum, solar energy leads all of the other major alternative energy categories in terms of rapid economic growth. Solar energy is also seen as experiencing the biggest technology breakthroughs (27%; up 2-pts). But perhaps most importantly, solar cells are expected to be affordable enough to achieve a competitive return on investment within seven years (by 2015).
"Demand for solar cells is unquestionably robust, the price of oil is trending higher, and solar tax credits will likely be extended," according to ChangeWave Analyst Josh Levine. The forces are all lining up exceptionally well for the solar industry. It's the right time for investors to be exposed to the sun and invest in solar stocks."
According to solar industry experts, the sector's growth is being propelled forward by global photovoltaics manufacturers like First Solar (FSLR), SunPower Corp. (SPWR) and SunTech Power Holdings (STP) - companies that have developed superior business models and excelled in project management.
Levine adds that the next big challenge for the solar industry is the scaling of production facilities for mass production at the gigawatt level. "The next generation of leaders will be those companies that are best equipped to leverage the latest innovations in materials research through manufacturing know-how," he said.
Clearly, solar energy has the momentum in our latest ChangeWave survey. We'll continue tracking solar energy and other non-traditional energy sources in the alternative energy industry for new opportunities in 2008
The ChangeWave expert research network is composed of 15,000 highly qualified professionals. Members are surveyed weekly on a range of topics, and ChangeWave converts the findings into proprietary reports. Visit our website for additional ChangeWave Solar Findings and ChangeWave Technology alerts.
Shedding Some Light on the Myths of Solar Energy
As new concepts and theories for residential energy production emerge, many sceptics voice their opinions claiming these new ideas simply don’t life up to the hype. Solar power is one such idea which has generated a considerable amount of cynicism.
With this article I aim to shed some light on some of the common misconceptions regarding the use of solar roof panels as a viable means of residential energy production.
“Solar panels will take too long to pay for themselves”
Year after year we are seeing our energy bills going up by ever increasing percentages. The promise of cheaper fuel bills from nuclear power never came to fruition so the need to consider renewable energy sources such as solar power is now a viable alternative. In the current economic climate, investment in cheaper bills for the future is a sound financial idea as remaining reliant on non-renewable energy sources such as coal, gas and oil can only become more expensive as they become scarcer and therefore more expensive.
“Britain is not sunny enough”
This is a common false statement regarding the use of solar panels in the UK. Most people assume solar energy panels need direct sunlight in order to function. In actual fact they only require light from any source rather than direct sunlight as they absorb the electromagnetic radiation found in photons. This means that a solar roof panel will even work at night by absorbing photons from star light and street lighting; however, this happens on such a minimal scale you’d never notice. The output of each solar panel is considerably higher on sunnier days as strength of light (or the shear amount of photons) is a major factor, as is the angle the solar panel to the sun.
“Solar panels are useless during the short winter days”
Although there is some truth to this statement, residential solar panels are far from useless during the winter months. The daylight hours are significantly shorter meaning each solar panel will generate less power over the course of a full day. The truth of the matter is that hour for hour; each solar energy panel is on average equally as efficient as it would be throughout the summer. Prior to the installation of solar panels one should consider how much sun light will be hitting their solar panels during the winter months. Your roof may be in the shadow of nearby trees or a chimney stack may reduce the efficiency of the solar panels by leaving all or part of the solar panel in permanent shade whilst the sun is lower in the sky.
“If I don’t generate enough solar power, I’ll have no electricity”
This simply is not the case. Your home will still be connected to the national grid, so anytime you need more electricity than the solar panels are providing, you’ll get it as normal from the mains. It is unlikely that a household will be able to produce 100% of it’s electricity as a result of installing solar roof panels as we have become far to reliant on electrical appliances. Saying that, it has been proven in the past that once a household begins generating its own electricity using solar panels, its occupants become far more conscious of the way in which they use it and day by day will use far less electricity.
“It takes more energy to manufacture a solar panel than it will ever put out”
The energy payback of solar panels varies depending on which type of solar panel is fitted. Currently, the microcrystalline-silicon solar panels have an estimated energy payback of less than 4 years where as the ‘thin-film’ solar panels have an energy payback of around 3 years. Future developments in renewable solar energy coupled with increased production are expected to halve the energy payback time of both microcrystalline-silicon PV solar panels and thin-film solar panels.
“Modern solar panels are still not efficient”
Solar energy has come along leaps and bounds since the development in the production of the first practical solar cells in the 1950’s. These had a sunlight energy conversion efficiency of around 6%. By the late 1980’s scientists had developed solar cells with an efficiency of 17%. By 2000 solar cells had an efficiency of 24%, rising to 26% in 2002, 28% in 2005 and 30% by 2007. Increased efficiency coupled with lower production costs means residential solar energy systems are cheaper and more efficient than ever before.
You may ask yourself one question regarding the above figures, “If solar panels are getting more efficient and cheaper year after year, maybe I should wait a few more years?” Although there is some logic to this idea, the truth of the matter is waiting a few extra years could well prove to be a false economy. At the moment the British government are offering a variety of grants to financially assist those seeking to run a greener home, including the installation of domestic solar panels which could save you up to 50% of the installation costs. Government grants like this may not be available a few years down the line.
What you ought to know before going solar in a new house?
We encourage everyone to go into solar, but you have to look at some general considerations before you’ll buy and use your solar system...
The best opportunity to go solar is when you move to a new home. This will give you the chance to design and orient the way you are going to use solar power at your place. A green oriented home build in a way it can admits the sun power at the winter for decreasing heating costs and rejecting overhead sun rays in the summer to reduce the cooling bills. Your architect should consider these principles when remodeling the house. A mere 5 degrees alternation in the home orientation can save thousands of dollars.
Connecting to solar grid
It is common in the US to buy electricity from renewable energy resources, including solar power, wind farms, plants oil, geothermal energy and more. The electricity grid usually allow you to get your energy from such sources, and moving to such green energy suppliers is a good way to go green. This is a way to use clean energy without buying the equipment. However, using your own equipment, however expensive, can save you money in the future, and give you independence
Your own power.
If a after building your home energy efficient you still have high bills, and your area is sunny enough, you might consider producing your own electricity with PV panels. The technology is being developed all the time, and new solar panel are available that can integrate with your roof, without much visibility.
Generating your electrical energy from the sun with a PV panels is much easier than it appears. Don’t let somebody tell you it’s complicated – it really isn’t. Just little knowledge will get you started on ordering the right components. For installation, you can hire an experienced solar installer, or if you have some basic electrical skills you can even do it yourself.
Just don’t forget that there are some building rules and regulations you have to follow.
Investment in Solar Technology
During the 1970s in a number of countries around the world, a push began to install solar energy panels on private residences. Many experts contended that solar energy, including solar energy incorporated into residential property, was to be the proverbial wave of the future. In reality, the early movement towards solar energy somewhat sputtered during the latter part of the decade and into the 1980s. A primary concern associated with solar homes centered on the fact that many consumers ended up finding that the installation and utilization of solar power systems into their homes was not proving particularly cost effective.
First, an increasing segment of the media has become concerned with the impact that carbon based energy sources are having on the environment, on the planet. As a consequence, there are an ever growing number of people who are making a concerted effort to make their living spaces far more environmentally friendly. From recycling to the use of alternative energy resources such as solar power, more men and women all of the time are becoming committed to establishing and maintaining homes that are more environmentally friendly.
Second, the costs associated with petroleum, coal and natural gas as primary sources of power have increased dramatically over the course of the past several years. The net result of this tremendous cost increases has been to make alternative energy resources - including solar power - far, far more cost effective. Therefore, many people are now turning (or returning, as the case may be) to solar homes because these types of residences have become cost effective in the current marketplace.
While many people are hoping that the costs associated with petroleum, coal and natural gas will drop sooner rather than later, most industry experts and financial analysis predict that this probably won't be the case. Therefore, research and development is becoming more intense when it does come to alternative energy resources such as solar homes. Moreover, consumer demand for alternative energy resources, including residential property that relies on solar power, is increasing markedly. These are companion long-term trends that are expected to continue into the future.
With this in mind and understood, many financial experts and analysts are suggesting with increasing regularity that making investments in such alternative energy resources such as solar homes is a wise course to take. These analysts maintain that the days are long gone when an investment in solar home technology was considered speculative at best. Rather, investments in such alternative energy resources such as solar homes is considered to be a sound course which will allow for the realization of significant profits in both the short and the long term.
Copyright (c) 2008 R Douglas Allen
R. Douglas Allen is general partner of Blue Lion Capital Management, a private equity company specializing in clean technology and alternative energy.
You can learn more about Blue Lion Capital Management and Mr. Allen by visiting this site:
http://www.bluelioncapitalmanagement.com
For Media Inquiries email Mr. Allen at: rdouglasallen at bluelioncapitalmanagement.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=R_Douglas_Allen
New Solar Technology - Holographic Tuning
With the renewed emphasis on renewable energy, new technologies are emerging. Holographic tuning is one such technology and could revolutionize solar cells.
Holographic Tuning
Holographic tuning, also known as Holographic Planar Concentrator, is a new technology with one goal in mind – cheaper and small solar cell collectors. The technology is based on a unique theory in which solar cells are holographically tuned to attract and focus different spectrums of sunlight on solar cells. The cells are tuned to attract certain spectrums that can be converted without excessive heat production. This allows the cells to make the maximum amount of energy while maintaining a very small size.
Current silicon cell technology is restricted to only a few spectrums and is highly inefficient as it fails to covert up to 85 percent of the sunlight into power. To make things even better, the process is being designed to “tune” the solar light onto both sides of each cell, thus doubling the energy output.
The primary advantage of holographic tuning is it will revolutionize the solar panel as we know it. Instead of large, bulky panels that aren’t particularly attractive, holographic tuning panels will look similar to regular bedroom windows, but with five or six horizontal rows of black rectangles, the cells. The prototypes are actually very striking and are a major improvement over current solar panel systems.
Prism Solar Technologies is the leading company in the holographic tuning field. The company is a subsidiary of Direct Global Power, and is pursuing the advancement of the technology through an exclusive rights license from the Illinois Institute of Technology.
Prism Solar Technologies intends to begin manufacturing of the new holographic tuning solar panels this year. Keep an eye out for these attractive, efficient solar panels.
Rick Chapo is with SolarCompanies.com, a directory of solar energy companies. Visit us to read more articles on solar power and renewable energy.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Chapo
President Bush Goes Solar
Environmentalists throughout the world are still in shock. Who would’ve every thought President Bush would push solar energy?
The Initiative
As you undoubtedly know by now, the President George Bush announced it was time to start weaning ourselves from our oil addiction during his State of the Union speech. As with anything in politics, there is much gnashing of the teeth as to whether the President, an avowed oil man form an oil family in Texas, really means to do anything. The answer, of course, is really almost irrelevant if people would stop to consider the fact that solar power was even mentioned in such a speech. Clearly, a baby step has been taken, if not a giant leap. So, what is the President’s grand plan?
With the Solar America Initiative, the administration has set a goal of accelerating widespread acceptance of clean solar technologies throughout the U.S. by 2015. Yes, it is a bit murky in regards to the exact goal, but the Energy Department recently clarified matters.
According to the Energy Department, the goal is to generate 5 to 10 megawatts of electricity in United States by 2015. While this may sound impressive, 10 megawatts of energy is barely enough to power two million homes. In comparison, California alone intends to put one million homes on solar in the next ten years. Put another way, the Solar America Initiative isn’t particularly impressive.
While the President appears to be paying lip service to solar energy in this Initiative, it should be noted that he is due more than a small bit of credit. First, he has put solar power and other clean energy on the political table. Second, the administration has taken major steps in other legislation to provide tax credits for solar power and renewable energy platforms. Those steps, not the Solar America Initiative, are going to make a major impact on the promotion of solar energy in the country. For that reason alone, the President should be applauded.
Rick Chapo is with SolarCompanies.com, a directory of solar energy companies. Visit us to read more articles on solar power and renewable energy.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Chapo
New Solar Tech for 2008
Our planet is warming, and we are helping make it happen by adding more heat-trapping gases, primarily carbon dioxide (CO2), to the atmosphere. The burning of fossil fuel (oil, coal, and natural gas) alone accounts for about 75 percent of annual CO2 emissions from human activities. Deforestation—the cutting and burning of forests that trap and store carbon—accounts for about another 20 percent.
There is a new wave in solar power tech. We are at the forefront of new innovations. However, these new designs will not be available until the beginning of 2008. REnU Polycrystalline or multi-crystalline solar cells in its core technology has already been proven to last in the field of over 25 years. It is on a par with current locked rates and fixed price guarantees.
Vertical integration of this system will produce clean power during peak sun hours. Interconnecting this solar system with electricity grids will offer excellent net metering in excess of generation.
There is no system purchase, no installation cost, no maintenance fees, no permit hassles, no performance worries, rate increases, and MUCH, MUCH, MORE advantages and benefits.
Rethink renewable energy and become part of the solution by installing a more environmentally friendly electricity-generating asset. Check out the short video on my website at http://jointhesolution.com/microcosm (upper right portion of the page).
Make your reservation today before our unique source of solar grade silicon manufacturing plants become active. You lock in the current rates of your electrical bill or the lowest rate. When the manufacturing plant reaches maximum production, solar systems could be installed on up to 100,000 homes per year. If you wait until the plants are completed, there will be tens and possibly hundreds of thousands of customers who will get their system before you.
Installation on select residential customer homes will be available as soon as panels are available. The wait could be much longer depending on when your local franchise is established and the distance of their location. (1 year minimum contract) To be a part of the solution to bring solar power to homeowners, please visit http://powur.com/microcosm.
Scientists agree that if we wait 10, 20, or 50 years, the problem will be much more difficult to address and the consequences for us will be that much more serious. Our atmosphere has limits too. CO2 remains in the atmosphere for about 100 years. The longer we keep polluting, the longer it will take to recover and the more irreversible damage will be done.
By investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency, and increasing the efficiency of the cars we drive, we can take essential steps toward reducing our dependence on oil and other fossil fuels that cause global warming. Using energy more efficiently and moving to renewable energy (wind, solar, geothermal, and bioenergy) would significantly reduce our emissions of heat-trapping gases.
For years we have heard so much about the causes of climate change, that we’ve missed the fact that there are simple, practical solutions that can slow this growing problem. Technologies exist today that can cut emissions of heat-trapping gases and make a real difference in the health of our planet. And these solutions will be good for our economy, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and enhance our energy security. Kini at http://microcosm.ws
Is Saving Money The Only Reason To Go Solar?
When we talk about solar power term return on investment always is mentioned. Return on investment means that can earn your invested money back within a calculated time frame. How long it takes to earn back your money depends on several factors. These factors are efficiency of the solar equipment, the amount of sunshine, your location and your budget. Let there be no misunderstanding that with solar power you can certainly earn back your invested money. What I would like to mention here is that there is also another way to look at why you should invest.
Let's get back to the first reason that is the return on investment. We will talk about solar power from another point of view. When you decide to use solar power it can be a big investment. If you would buy a total system you are looking at $15,000-$25,000 and that is a lot of money. But when you look at all the products you buy to use for your home or invest in, how many of them save you money or even make you money? When you buy a car you need that car for transportation. The decision for choosing your car depends on your budget and emotions, what you like or dislike. When you're driving your car have you ever thought about how much money you can save with this purchase? Not much I can tell you that. Buying a car is not a good investment, when you first drive your new bought car you are already loosing money. The car loses its value every day not to mention the additional cost like petrol, maintenance and car insurance. From that point of view a car is a bad investment because you will loose money instantly and constantly. From another point of view the car gives you freedom and perhaps status, but that comes with a price tag. Let take a look at a television set, you probably have more than one in your home. The television gives you entertainment, news and valuable information that you need. This device uses a lot of electricity and even in standby mode it uses a lot. The industry creates new features on television set each year. If you buy one today tomorrow you already have an 'old' set and you'll never get the same price for an older model. So it can be said that this device will also not give you a return on investment. This list can go on and on.
The only wise investment in this context is your home. If you buy a home today your investment will increase over the years. Of course there are reasons that can be negative for your home value, but in general you will gain money. When you invest in a solar power this can also be a valuable feature for your home. When you sell the house the unique selling point can be the use of solar power. For potential buyers the money saving option with solar power can be big advantage. They will not have to invest in a solar power system themselves and all the hard research work is already done for them. If you own your home and will not sell the savings on utility are yours now and forever.
What I am saying in this article is that investing in solar power should not only be for the return on investment but also for other reasons as well as mentioned above. One topic that has not been mentioned here is that depending on where you live you can get tax credits and cash rebates and other incentives when you decide to invest in solar power. That is an additional reason to invest in solar power. The rules for rebates and incentives changes really fast and sometimes you have to move fast if you want apply. If you want to invest in a solar system don't forget the rebates and incentives. It will make your return on investment even better and the savings will put a smile on your face. Even if you don't get the rebates, tax credits or other incentives going solar is a wise decision.
About the Author:
Bryan Wong is the owner of the solar information website www.GetEasyInfo.com/solarpower> - A great website that shares quality Info, News and TIPS on solar energy.
Solar and Wind Power Compared
With the TV news constantly reporting about melting ice caps and rising sea levels in the Seychelles, it makes many of us wonder what we can do to do "our bit" for the environment. One way is to become as energy self-sufficient as possible. Solar panels and wind turbines are just two option available to you. Although energy is used in the manufacture of these products, overall they cause very little in the way of pollution. Once they are installed they'll keep producing energy indefinitely. Also because the energy comes from the sun and wind, you are not dependant on oil from politically unstable countries like Iraq and Nigeria.
Solar Energy - The energy from the sun'S rays are converted into energy when they hit the photovoltaic (PV) module. The PV responds to this by generating an electrical current which is carried into your home via wires and circuit breakers.
Sounds like the perfect solution to our energy requirements doesn't it? Sun and wind cost nothing and will never run out. However it does cost a lot of money and there are some limitations to how they can be used.
Costs - Some people may argue that it doesn't matter what these methods cost; the environment is more important than money. However unless you are a millionaire, cost are very important. The cost of production, transportation and installation all add up. Unfortunately at the moment the cost just doesn't stack up compared to oil and coal.
Efficiency - Solar panels require energy from the sun so if they are installed on the equator, you'll be able to achieve 1,00 watts per square meter of solar panel. Unfortunately if you live a considerable distance from the equator and experience many dull days, you'll only get about 125-375 W/m2. Efficiency also needs to be factored in; you only get 10-15% efficiency depending on how it's produced.
Despite the above, solar panels covering your roof can still generate enough power for your home. As long as you are careful about how you use electricity and don't waste it by leaving electrical goods on all day when they aren't being used.
Problems with Wind Power - Engineers have a tendency to think about wind farms from an engineering perspective. They don't seem to think about how a wind farm will affect the local area - both visually and in terms of wildlife. Many of the windiest places are home to a huge variety of bird species. You can imagine the consequences if a bird were to fly into a turbine. It could quickly wipe out a whole flock.
Then if there is a drop in wind levels, the amount of energy produced is greatly hampered. The turbines also need to be linked up with a storage system and the energy produced is not as good as we would like.
In saying that, these types of energy production has to be a major part of our future energy production. We simply cannot keep going the way we are. Eventually oil is going to become so scarce that prices will be sky high and pollution levels will even worse than they are now. Technology is constantly advancing and efficiency levels are increasing and they are becoming more affordable. It many take many years however before they replace oil and coal.
Is It Time For Solar Energy to Get Hot?
Is It Time For Solar Energy To Get Hot? By Tim Phelan
Solar energy has been around for quite a while and most people don't think about it much except for the ones who are already into renewable sources of energy. Environmentalists have always loved the idea of solar energy but what has kept it from going more mainstream, being more widely used and looked upon as something someone wants to spend money to install on their property? There have been improvements in the technology of solar energy, but has there been enough? Isn't the war on terror and the desire to be independent of foreign energy sources enough to persuade people to use solar energy? At what point will solar energy become the great and never ending source of energy many of envisioned many years ago?
Last year I was driving to Las Vegas from San Jose and when I was just about three quarters of the way to my destination I passed a sign that said something about a "solar farm." I glanced over and saw row upon row of solar panels sitting in the middle of the dessert. This is about the only farm that could survive in the dessert I thought to myself. Then I thought " Wow. Why can't I do that?" In a smaller fashion of course because of my limited resources. But I thought why not rent some land and buy some of these panels and start my own little farm? It made sense and actually it still makes sense to me.
I went home later and looked into the solar energy industry. I wanted to see if this was possible now and I thought if these people put all those panels out in the dessert and sold the energy to others why can't a small businessman?
Well, what I found out is that it isn't quite possible to do just yet. Why? Because the cost of the panels, property, labor etc.. wasn't low enough to make a profit for what you can sell the energy for. The solar farm was more than likely subsidized by the government. So I looked into the possibility of using them on homes. This thought has been around for decades and you do see the panels on more homes than you used to so I was wondering if this was possible now. I found out that it just takes too long for the average consumer to get their investment back to consider putting solar panels on their homes.
The average time for a homeowner to get the money back on their investment is anywhere from 12 years to 20 years. For this industry to take off that figure I believe will have to go down to around 5 to 7. Not that far really. It could actually go below that.
Three things have to happen for the solar energy promise to become a reality and for homeowners and entrepreneurs to decide in large numbers to use solar panels to create electricity:
1. The price of the panels will have to decrease. 2. The panels will have to improve and produce more energy. 3. The cost of energy will have to increase.
Actually just one of these factors can happen to a great degree and the other two stay constant and the point will be reached where the solar energy industry will explode. But more than likely, all three will come closer together and at some point people will decide to start buying the panels in record numbers and we will see this way of creating energy from a clean and renewable source be common place.
Here is why I think the time is very near for this explosion to happen.
1. There is a bill in the state legislature in California now that will spend on rebates for solar energy. The governor wants to show that he is in the front of this movement and wants to be aggressive. Some don't like the way the bill is written, but there is a good chance it will pass. Click here for the article
2. The panels are becoming more and more efficient at producing more energy.
3. The price may go down dramatically if contracts with China to produce the panels are put into place. Normally I don't like our jobs going oversees to people who only get fractions of what the US worker makes but in this instance it will also create many jobs here to install the panels, sell them, warehouse them etc... Plus this is something the country needs I feel. Clean, renewable energy that makes us less reliable on foreign oil and gases.
Also, some companies are producing these new generation flexible solar energy panels that come in sheets and can be rolled up and then out onto surfaces. These may bring the cost way down and make the instalation much more easy and cost efficiant. Here is an article about this new product: Click Here
At what point will these three variables merge?
I predict in the next two to three years this industry will take off like so many of us were hoping it would many years ago.
If you want to know how to install a solar electric panel system to your house here is a inexpensive e-book that shows you how. Click Here People can act now, and many already are by buying and installing these solar panels. With the war on terror looking like it could last decades many look upon this investment as not only a clean green solution and a smart investment on increasing the value of their home, but as almost a patriotic gesture in a way to free us from the dependence on middle eastern oil and natural gas. Here is a link to a terrific site where you can get these panels at wholesale prices. This site has all sorts of renewable energy sources at great prices.
Altenenergystore.com
About the Author:
Tim Phelan is a full time internet marketer who has been self emloyed for the last 12 years. Real estate, the environment, art, world culture, politics are some of his other interests. Please visit this site: click here Email address Click Here timphelansblog.com
Solar Home Improvements without Panels
by: Rick Chapo
You’ve grown tired of paying monstrous electric bills and have decided to go solar. Solar panels, however, aren’t exactly your taste. Don’t worry, you can go solar without them.
Solar panels are used to convert sunlight into electricity, which can be used to light and heat a home. They are not, however, the only method for accomplishing these goals with the sun. A simple experiment you can try in your driveway will show you why.
Park your car in a sunny spot on your driveway. Get in, mark the time, close the vents and roll up the windows. It starts getting pretty warm pretty quick, eh? You’ve just experience a concept known as direct gain energy. The power of the sun is more than sufficient to create heating and lighting if it is manipulated to hit your home in the right way.
Direct gain is a concept that has existed for thousands of years. Before electricity was in abundant supply, ancient societies planned entire structures around the concept. You can learn from their experience.
Once gardening issues are resolved, you need to take a close look at the surface areas. Much like a car, it is important that the sun has a method for penetrating the exterior of the home. The primary issue concerns windows. Are there any and, if so, how big are they?
The easiest method to generate solar heat in your home is by placing large windows on the south side of the home. Home Depot, here we come. To truly maximize the effect, you should also have two additional components.
The first is a fan system that will help circulate air out into the rest of the home. The temperature differences from room to room will eventually equalize, but a few ceiling fans can help.
The second issue to consider is your flooring. Windows are great and all, but what happens when the sun goes down? No more sunlight and no more heat. To overcome this problem, you can make improvements to the flooring below the windows. Yank up the carpet and put in some material that soaks up the sunlight. Certain ceramic and masonry products will hold significant amounts of heat. As the sun beats down on them, they slowly heat up during the day. Once the sun sets, they start giving off heat which allows you to maximize your passive solar system.
While this strategy will not replace your traditional heating costs, it can act as a supplemental system to take care of heating issues during the day and early evening. Break out your hammer and you can cut a chunk out of your utility bill!
About The AuthorRick Chapo is with http://www.solarcompanies.com – a directory of solar energy and solar power companies. Visit http://www.solarcompanies.com/articles to read more solar electricity articles.
I have just heard a very stupid new political stupidity of the Bush administration: When faced with a dramatic increase in the amount of proposed solar power plants, the federal government has placed a moratorium on new solar projects on public land until it studies their environmental impact (?!), which is expected to take about two years. This decision will definately freeze new solar proposals. That has caused widespread concern in the alternative-energy industry, as fledgling solar companies must wait to see if they can realize their hopes of harnessing power from tons of sun-coocked public land, just as the demand for viable alternative energy is accelerating. That terrible news, exemplify the way the US government lagging far behind the rest of the western world in advancing new alternative energy projects. This illogical two-year moratorium underscores how environmental progress under this administration has not been just a story of benign neglect but rather significant and widespread destructi
The strange request to study the "environmental impact" of solar panels is a complete stupid argument. No one in the administration seems to be concerned about "the impact of construction and transmission lines on native vegetation and wildlife" when it comes to the enormous border fence spanning the sunniest parts of the country...
As a whole, we must change this attitude, before the increase in fossil fuels uses, will left now vegetation or wildlife to be concerned about.
