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Making the Transition from Inorganic to Organic Solar Cells

2012-01-13 - [Solar] - Dr Dino Ponnampalam        

The fluctuating price of energy, due to a variety of reasons ranging from geo-political constraints to national and international economic issues, and the fact that these energy resources are finite, can be seen as the main incentives to make a transition to a clean energy society.

Solar Energy Systems Internal Rate of Return

2011-12-29 - [Solar] - John Landers        

Installing a solar energy system represents an important financial decision for any individual or company. Business owners, corporate boards and individual property owners have a limited amount of financial resources. Therefore, they must compare the cost of  a solar energy system to other projects, and allocate funds  based on  the best choice or highest priority.

Another way of looking at the problem is to determine if putting the money in an investment that pays more in return compared to the energy cost the solar system would have provided.

Bio-based Solar Cell Technology – A Cleaner Option for the Solar Industry

2011-12-16 - [Solar] - Dr Dino Ponnampalam        

Much has been made of the fact that currently available energy sources are polluting and finite.  Furthermore, much has been made of the belief that renewable energy resources collectively hold the potential to meet the energy demands of the world.  Therefore, reason will dictate that the development of renewable energy resources is a positive direction that will first reduce then eliminate the need for carbon-based fossil fuels.

DSSC – Transforming A Solar Cell

2011-12-02 - [Solar] - Dr Dino Ponnampalam        

Since the Industrial Revolution, our energy needs have been met primarily through the burning of polluting fossil fuels, with each century producing a more power-hungry generation than the previous. While this underpinned the rapid development of society through the ages, bringing unparalleled economic gains, burning fossil fuels came at an unacceptable environmental cost.

Cold Weather PVs: The Niche Market

2011-11-30 - [Solar] - D.A. Barber        

The efficiency of PV solar cells is not only affected by the photovoltaic materials and manufacturing techniques used to produce them, but temperature can cause problems with even the most efficient panels. The efficiency of PVs has always been known to decrease with increases in temperature, so cooling is usually necessary for applications that involve high illumination such as found with concentrated sunlight.

The Solar Glass and Reflector Value Chain

2011-11-28 - [Solar] - John Landers        

Solar modules require tempered solar glass to protect interior components against the elements. In thin film applications, glass function as a substrate for the deposit of the charging material, such as silicone. Coated glass forms the foundation for reflector technology used in concentrated solar plants collectors, parabolic troughs, central receivers and parabolic engines.

Reflectors also work for concentrated photovoltaics. An anti-reflective coating improves the transmission rate of sunlight, which increases efficiency.

Reduce Building’s Energy Costs with Solar Ventilation Preheat Solution

2011-11-22 - [Solar] - John Landers        

Solar ventilation preheat refers to a solar wall or transpired solar collector, which heats air before it enters a structure. It provides a very efficient method of lowering a building energy costs with a clean renewable source of energy. Invented by engineer John Hollick of Conserval Engineering, the concept of employing a transpired solar collector-air preheating system, has been in use since the 1990s -- under the name Solar Wall. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory conducted significant research into the technology during the decade of the 90s.

CIGS – Manufacturing A Solar Future

2011-11-21 - [Solar] - Dr Dino Ponnampalam        

A solar-based Utopia would see solar panels on the roof of every building, and solar material integrated into the façade of each building. Every conceivable space that receives direct sunlight would be layered in solar material. Using solar cells, such maximization of space would better harness the abundant sunlight the earth receives each day and offer a possible route to wean society off using polluting fossil fuels.

Dynamics of the Photovoltaic Value Chain

2011-11-17 - [Solar] - John Landers        

According to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), 67.5% of the worldwide electricity consumption comes from fossil fuels — coal (41%), natural gas (21%), and oil (5.5%). Nuclear energy provides 13.5% and hydro 15.9%. Wind 2.5% and solar energy provides less than one percent of the world’s electricity needs.

Optofluidic Solar Power

2011-11-04 - [Solar] - D.A. Barber        

The emerging field of optofluidics is offering new techniques for directing light and concentrating with it microscopic precision where it can be most efficiently used. This has the potential for greatly increasing the efficiency of existing solar energy systems such as PV cells, as well as possibly creating entirely new forms of energy production, according to Demetri Psaltis, Dean of the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) School of Engineering in Switzerland and a pioneer in the optofluidicfield. EPFL is considered the world leader in optofluidics.