Is There A Future In Solar Energy?

Is There A Future In Solar Energy?

            Solar technology has been helping people create and save energy, while being eco-friendly for decades.   In 1918, Polish Scientist Jan Czochralski developed a method to produce monocrystalline silicon, the material that is most commonly used in solar panels today.  In 1963, Sharp Corporation was successful in developing the first silicon cell based solar module.  Companies competed world-wide to develop the most efficient photovoltaic systems.  Japan built a 242 watt module field in 1963, which was the largest at the time, only to be topped by the Americans 470 watt photovoltaic field in the Nimbus space project in 1964.  Today solar energy continues to grow and efficiency is higher than ever, but in recent years only minor incremental improvements have been made towards silicon-based solar cells.  Due to the so-called “peak” of silcon-based solar cell innovation, scientists are looking for new, low-cost, efficient  methods of producing photovoltaic systems.

Quantum Dot Solar Cells

Pros:

§         Able to convert sunlight as well as use heat to produce electricity.

§         Clean power generation

§         Can possibly approach efficiencies of 65%.

Cons: 

§         Hot electrons lose their energy as they travel.

§         Not Suitable for large scale manufacturing.

Overview:  Research is still being done on quantum dot solar cells (QD), but they have been found to be very efficient.  Once researchers are able to figure out how to consistently harness the majority of the suns light, quantum dot solar cells may be able to be implemented to solar modules.  Right now QD solar cells are not able to be manufactured on a large scale, so implementing QD solar cells would have an insignificant impact. 

Links:

§         Boosting Solar-Cell Efficiency With Quantum –Dot-Based Nanotechnology

§         New Inexpensive Solar Cell Design

§         Quantum Dot Research Could Mean Highly Efficient Solar Cells

Full Spectrum Solar Cells

Pros:

§         Able to convert the full solar spectrum, making it more efficient

§         Can possibly approach efficiencies of 70%.

§         Tremendous heat capacity

§         Cost-Efficient

Cons: 

§         Crystals can be damaged easily.

§         Indium Nitride Crystals have many defects

Overview:  Eventually we may be able to produce cheaper solar panels, that double efficiency, and are the same size as traditional panels.  As of right now researchers are unable to control the formation of atomic clusters, that need to be absolutely perfect in order to capture the full color spectrum.  Until they are able to consistently produce fully working full spectrum solar cells (researchers have been working for about 10 years, with little progress), silicon-cell PV systems are the way to go.

Links:

§         Berkley Full Spectrum Solar Cell Discovery

§         On The Path To Full Spectrum Solar Cells

NanoSolar

Pros:

§         Efficient at converting sunlight to energy

§         More Versatile

§         Cost-Efficient

§         Extremely Flexible & Durable

§         Enables Longer Panel Array

§         Easier Installation

Cons: 

§         Less Efficient than traditional silicon-based modules

                       

Overview:  If any of these technologies were to take over the future of solar energy, Nanotechnology would be the closest one.  Nanotechnology uses thinner and lighter panels than traditional modules.  Due to the increase in accessibility, installations are lest costly.

Links:

§         Nanosolar

§         Review Of Photovoltaic Cells

§         PowerPedia: Solar Energy

Top Five Recent Advancements In Solar Energy

1. Reflective Dishes

Reflector made of mirrors, that collects sunlight and intensifies it one thousand times over.

2. Spherical Solar Cells

Due to the spherical shape, the cells are able to absorb sunlight from all possible angles, generating more power and a better efficiency.

3. Paint On Solar Cells

-Most versatile type of solar cell, being that they can be placed virtually anywhere.

4. Solar Concentrators

-Increases the amount of sunlight being concentrated on the solar cells.  Since more light is directed on the cell less photovoltaic material is needed, decreasing the price of the panel by half.

5. Nanotechnology powered Dye Sensitive Solar Cells

Cost efficient, beautiful to look at, and convert more light to energy.

New Advancements v.s. Traditional  Photovoltaic System

           

With all the future advancements being researched, and all the future progressions, there is only one photovoltaic system that has withstood the test of time.  Silicon-based PV systems have helped people achieve their electrical and financial goals using Silicon-based PV systems for over 45 year.  [2] Industry reports claim that solar power grew at a rate of 40% per year within the last eight years.  The reports also state that the cost per KW of photovoltaic systems have been decreasing, while the cost of electricity generated by fossil fuels has been steadily increasing.  [3] The demand for solar photovoltaic systems is expected to double to 2 GW by next year and triple in size to 3 GW by 2012.  The industries first billion dollar installation is set to take place this year, with the installation f a 290 megawatt Agua Caliente facility in Arizona.  According to Industry reports, solar power will reach cost parity with conventional power sources in the U.S by 2015.  Reports also indicate that solar Energy will grow to accommodate 10% of the U.S power necessities. In terms of watts, solar energy consumption will equal above 55,000 megawatts.  This may not seem like much to many, but as of now solar energy currently provides less than 0.1% of the countries electricity.

References

            [1] History of Photovoltaics

[2]Study: Solar Power Could Provide 10% of U.S Electricy by 2025

            [3] U.S PV Market doubling in 2011