Technology Lowers Cost for Alternate Energy Sources

Several years ago, large panels of photovoltaic cells popped up on rooftops of homes owned by those with the financial means and the desire to save energy. They were expensive and installing a system on a home that would provide whole-house power was usually out of the question. Most solar panels were also rigid and the return on the investment, in terms of the amount of electricity produce, was too small for most to consider.

Today, the price of silicon, the material on which most panels rely, has drastically come down in price and the production methods have also changed to further lower the cost. Forming a silicon panel was done by melting the silicon and forming blocks, which were then sliced into thin panels. Technology has learned that the molten silicon can be skimmed and formed into panels of varying sizes as well as for coating onto a flexible film and used to produce photovoltaic cells.

While the amount of electricity produced is dependent on the number of photovoltaic cells connected together, the cost today is considerably less than their first usage in the 1970s. Then, it cost roughly $150 per watt while today’s cost is estimated at $4.50 per watt, thanks largely to advances in the technology to produce the solar cells.

Batteries required to store the electricity have also been developed that are considerably cheaper than the first generation. Technology has also provided better inverters to change the power from direct to alternating current, the type of current used in nearly all home appliances, including light bulbs.

As more technicians adapt to installing solar systems in residents and businesses, the installation costs have also dropped, making solar power in homes affordable to many more people. Additionally, solar power is not the only type of power benefiting from advances in technology. Visions of windmills that turned stones for grind wheels have been replaced by windmills that turn turbines for generating electricity.

Vast arrays of windmills, called wind farms, are sprouting up around the world as wind is a plentiful resource that is not dependent on sunshine, as solar panels are. Located in areas where prevalent winds blow almost constantly, they can be the source for an almost endless supply of power. When enough windmills are connected together, the aggregate power can be fed into the local power grid to reduce the strain on power generating plants, also reducing the amount of pollutants vented into the air.