Solar Panels For Today

One of the main problems with solar power is collecting the power of the sun and at
the same time having the solar panels be pleasing to the eyes of the people around
you. You have probably seen solar houses in your neighborhood with five or six solar
panels reflecting the sun. Though this is the wave of the future, it is not at this time
pleasing to the eye of most consumers. These home owners put their solar panels
either on the roof or in the backyard and to the casual non technologically-oriented
person this looks tacky and takes away from the beauty of a neighborhood.
There is new technology that allows the solar power user to set their solar panels up
in a way that is aesthetically pleasing, and at the same time gives greater
opportunities to collect sunlight. These designs have been put in place to serve dual
purposes. They not only enhance the look of a house, but also give the owner a
chance to use his solar panels as cover for other things. Solar panels can be set up in
a variety of ways as long as they are angled at the sun and collect the optimal
amount of energy that is emitted in that area of the house.
These new designs have combined traditional house extensions with a revolutionary
new concept that allows the solar panel to act both as a part of the house and at the
same time collects energy. One such design looks like a carport from the outside.
The solar panels are set up so that they extend from the house above the car parking
area. The driver of the car can park his car underneath the solar panels and they, in
turn, give the car protection from the elements. Snow and rain cannot hit the car and
the solid construction of the solar panels helps them support themselves, even under
the weight of snow. These solar panels have a heating system that goes throughout
them. The heat will melt any moisture such as snow or ice so that the sun can get
through to the solar panels no matter what the weather.
Some designs have solar panels sloped gently from the second story of the house to
provide an area for which a person could put a garden box or flowers and have some
protection from the sun during inclement weather. Other systems include panels that
will come out during sunrise and can be retracted when the sun goes down.
Another technology advance allows a greenhouse to use only solar power. This will
allow the heat to be trapped inside the greenhouse causing the plants to thrive. At
the same time the sun collected above the greenhouse can be reflected down to the
plants to give them the solar energy they need to live. This solar panel can only
collect so much energy within each cell then the residual sunlight would go to the
plants. The added benefit is that the installation of these solar panels will cause the
humidity to be collected inside the hothouse and allow for the house to be warmer
when the weather cools down. All this put together does not take away from the idea
that the house is receiving renewable energy that cost nothing except for the setup
of the solar panels in the first place.
Check out the Internet for the new designs of solar panels. These solar panels are
becoming more attractive than is aesthetically pleasing to the eye because they are
becoming more efficient to help you save money and to be less dependent on fossil
fuels.



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The Future Of Solar PV (Photovoltaic) Energy

1. The Problem
2.The Solution
3. The Results
4.The Benefits

An Investment in the Future

1. The Problem:
Traditional sources of electrical power generation are running out as production will peak in the next decade but demand will continue to rise. Energy prices will continue to rise at a higher rate as well as the number of outages during peak hours. There is the obvious problem of the pollution we are causing to our environment.
From my perspective, the world's energy needs vary greatly; there is no clear single solution to the problem of supplying the world's energy.
All forms of energy production have issues associated with them, i. e. -
1. Coal - Pollution/Strip Mining
2. Natural Gas - Cost and Lack of Infrastructure
3. Hydro - Limited Availability/Environmental Concerns
4. Wind - Limited Site and Resource Availability
5. Solar PV - Higher Cost
6. Nuclear – Waste disposal
2. The Solution:
Solar PV (Photovoltaic) systems effectively deliver three to five hours of peak power per day at roughly 10 Watts per square foot. Not one square inch of new land would be required to site PV. Theoretically, there are adequate residential, commercial, Government rooftops, and parking structures in California to power a substantial percentage of our State's electrical needs from solar.
In Southern California, solar produces a net energy gain in approximately three years. This means that within three years, PV systems begin producing more energy than the energy spent in producing the system and its raw materials. Best of all, the energy produced cost zero emissions.At today's prices, a typical solar system costs approximately $6.00/watt, installed and has an operating life in excess of 25 years. For all intents and purposes, maintenance and operating costs are minimal. Now there are systems available for rent. Companies such as Citizenre at www.jointhesolution.com/rethink-solar allow you to create solar power of a unit that is installed, maintained and monitored by them. You merely pay the monthly rental fee for you clean electricity which is the same price as you pay the electric company for you electricity. Also they allow you to lock in a rate now for up to 25 years so you are paying the same price throughout the entire contract.
3. The Results:
Solar energy increases the diversity of power and adds stability to a fossil fuel favored energy structure, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
4. The Benefits:-- Solar can be quickly deployed at the point of use, reducing the need for additional transmission and distribution infrastructure, and cost thereof.
-- Solar operates most efficiently at mid day, when grid demand is at its peak. By decreasing the strain during peak hours, the longevity of existing power plants and infrastructure is extended, lowering further the cost of energy production.
-- By deploying solar over time the cumulative effect of the installed base is impressive. Given its 25-year life, within 10 to 20 years, a respectable portion of California's energy could be supplied by solar.
-- Once installed, the cost is fixed. In comparison to traditional sources of energy, the fuel cost is nonexistent, and operational costs are limited. A solar system's cost is amortized over its life, there are no rate hikes due to fuel or operating cost increases.
5. An Investment in the Future:
Solar energy is part of the solution and is a key to America's long-term energy supply. After all, fossil fuels have a long history of issues with respect to stability of supply and cost. The Outlook of Solar Power is Bright!1. Solar will sustain its torrid growth, as costs continue to fall. The solar market has grown at ~40% per annum in recent years, and there are many reasons to think that it will sustain, if not exceed, that clip in 2009. Solar panel prices have followed a predictable experience curve since the 1970’s, with prices dropping by 30% with each doubling of manufacturing capacity. As the silicon-dominated industry moves to thinner and higher-efficiency wafers, increases manufacturing scale, improves wafer and cell processing technologies, sees polysilicon prices return to rational levels, and migrates production to lower-cost countries –- costs will continue to drive towards parity with grid rates, and solar will become increasingly more attractive. Indeed, a solar panel for your home, whether brand new, second hand or rented, is definitely a wise choice as it helps you in minimizing your electric bills, helps the worlds growing energy needs and is especially an environmentally healthy and helpful choice.
If you are interested in more information on solar energy go to
http://solarizeitnow.com/




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Solar: Will It Ever Power Our Vehicles?

As solar power has matured as a technology, companies have started applying it to more than just houses. Acting as an energy platform for our transport was an obvious application.
Solar: Will It Ever Power Our Vehicles
As an active technology, one of the first uses for solar power was on NASA spacecraft. Although not used for propelling the crafts, interested parties immediately started thinking about using solar power for getting us around in our daily lives. Alas, there were so many problems with the technology, including efficiency issues, that the idea never really gained much footing. With the massive popularity of hybrid vehicles, companies and research institutes are revisiting the idea.
Vehicles getting all of their energy from the sun are not a viable option at this time or for the near future. The problem is you simply can’t produce enough energy to meet the power needs. Until technology is developed to make the sunlight conversion process much more efficient, there really is not an answer to the problem. This technological advance, however, may not be far away.
Quantum dots are a form of nanotechnology that is being developed by numerous companies for solar power applications. This technology essentially tries to create tiny solar robots to convert the sunlight to energy. Millions fit within small areas and the hope is the efficiency conversion rate will go through the roof. The companies are looking to create a platform where the robots would exist in paint. Yep, the paint on your home and car may eventually produce all the energy needed.
In the meantime, solar power applications are being developed with a focus on hybrids. The basic idea is to use solar power to provide energy to the batteries powering the hybrid cars. Put another way, it is a step towards the ultimate goal. Honda does not discuss its research, but is believed to have built a facility solely for this purpose and is dumping money into it hand over foot.
The creation of viable solar vehicles is dependent on the advances of the underlying technology. Solar hybrids should be on the market relatively quickly. The big breakthrough, however, will be when viable commercial applications are developed using nanotechnology.



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