Same Light, More Power?: Solar Articles: Eco20/20

Same Light, More Power?

Solar panels use photovoltaic cells to excite the photons, which in turn push the electrons out of their orbits. Once the electrons are out of orbit, they are captured into a direct circuit current, which creates electricity. All solar panels act the same way, but there are different types of solar panels, each with its own attributes and advantages. The average rate of electrical return from all solar panel types is in the range of fourteen to twenty percent.

Monocrystalline solar panels are made in single sheets of silicon. Monocrystalline cells are made in cylindrical shaped cells, leaving the four corners of the cell uncovered. Different types of metal can be attached to the panel to make the electrons move faster, which enables the panels to literally pick the atoms apart, which in turn converts solar radiation energy into electricity. Even though they are slightly more expensive than other types of solar panels, the high rate of return will end up paying off the cost of the panels and installation in approximately two to four years.

Polycrystalline solar panels are quite similar to monocrystalline solar panels, with one difference. Instead of the silicon being made in cylindrical shapes, polycrystalline solar panels are created in square shapes. These are less efficient, but also less costly to purchase and install.

String ribbon silicon is silicon that is produced in a flat, thin film. This is less costly to produce due to a decrease in matter waste, but it is also less energy efficient. Silicon is heated and then stretched along two ribbons, much like the process of pulling taffy. Sheets are then cut from the long string ribbon, and overlaid on solar panels.

Amorphous silicon, also known as thin film, solar panels use a vacuum spraying process to coat a thin film of silicon over flexible plastic, metal or glass panels. The type of panel can affect solar radiation retention and, in turn, the overall rate of electric return.

Building integrated solar panels are a great option if a new shading area is being built. Instead of installing panels onto the roof, the panels create the roof. This is a great option because not only does it generate electricity, it also provides shade for parts of a building that may not typically be temperature controlled, like a carport.

Dye-sensitized solar cells use dye to attract more sunlight. The dye provides the electrons that produce the electrical current, while the semiconductor handles the transportation of the charges. One problem with dye-sensitive solar cell panels is the fact that the dye layer needs to be much thicker than the molecules the dye covers in order to harness enough of the solar radiation. In current dye-sensitive solar panels, the semiconductors are set in a scaffolding manner, thus increasing the surface area available for the dye to cover, thus increasing the radiation energy harnessed for conversion.

Although most solar panels currently on the market offer a rate of electric return averaging from fourteen to eighteen percent, researchers have found new methods that can increase the rate of electric return up to forty-nine percent. This will make solar panels more efficient, and therefore a greater answer to the green energy question for electricity.

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