Solar Energy - A Sturdy Power Foundation for the Here and Now and Well Into the Years to Come

Once upon a time, in the early 1950's, the scientists over at Bell Laboratories made a photovoltaic cell capable of effectively changing light into electricity. This discovery in modern science marked an elemental change in how power is manufactured. These cells started out producing6% efficiency, and went to 15% with experimental cells obtaining efficiencies over 40%!.Since then, prices have fallen from over $250.00/ watt to under $3.00 per watt. You got it; if you wanted a 100 watt solar modules, you could expect to pay as much as $30,000.00 for that panel! The application of solar energy and solar power spans from conventional technologies that provide food, heat and light to electricity which is solely modern. There are several technologies that use solar power.The specific types of solar technology are active, passive, direct and indirect. Active solar energy systems use both electrical and mechanical parts such as solar modules that are used to process daylight into usable outputs such as heating, lighting or electricity. Passive solar systems use non-mechanical procedures of moderating, changing and meting out sunlight into usable outputs such as heating, lighting, cooling or ventilation.These processes include selecting items with favorable thermal properties, designing spaces that naturally circulate air, and referencing the position of a building to the sun. Direct solar usually refers to technologies or effects that involve a single conversion of sunlight which results in a usable form of energy. Indirect solar generally relates to technologies or effects that involves multiple transformations of sunlight which occur in a usable form of energy. A solar cell or photovoltaic cell is a device that changes light into electricity using the photovoltaic effect. Until just recently, their use has been limited because of high manufacturing costs.One cost effective use has been in very low-power devices such as calculators with LCDs. Another use has been in remote functions such as roadside emergency telephones, remote sensing, cathodic protection of pipe lines, and limited off grid home power applications. A third use has been in powering orbiting satellites and spacecraft.The solar modules should be placed perpendicular to the arc of the Sun to expand their strength, as on rooftops or mounted on the ground using special racking systems.The easiest way to use this electricity is by linking the solar panels to a grid tie power inverter. This set up usually has the solar modules wired in series, and do not require battery backup for night time or hazy days, as the grid will assume supplying the building's power.Many diverse types of materials have been used in the construction of the pv solar modules. Some of those materials used incorporate low iron, high light transmission glass, EVA (Methyl-Vinyl-Acetate) TPT, KPE, TPE, and specialized silicone encapsulates. These items are used to laminate the entire solar module using a mixture of heat, vacuum and pressure. This in turn closes the individual solar cells, enabling them to stand the test of time and effectively operate for over 25 years.We have come a long way in our pursuit to collect the power of the Sun, however, there is so much more learn!