Silicon Solar Cells and Solar Panels

Today silicon solar cells continue to be the most used solar cells in solar panels. The reason this continues is due to the durable nature of the cells themselves and the efficiency with regards to the amounts of energy they can convert.

Other methods are being researched in order to decrease the cost associated with solar power generation however these are years in the making. If you are interested in saving money on your energy bills now, waiting around for technology probably isn’t the answer.

It is feasible to run your entire house on solar power. You need to first consider a few things: the sun shines only during the day, that means you need a method to store the energy captured during the day in order to make use of the energy during the night, and you will also need to calculate how much energy your household or business uses in order to install the appropriate size of solar panel for your energy needs.

In order to make it feasible to run your home on solar power, you can do things to reduce your amount of energy consumption. Buying smaller appliances, running lights off fluorescents, changing out equipment for more energy conscious choices can make a difference in your daily energy consumption.

Although silicon solar cells have been traditionally high in price, there is a greater awareness of the use of solar energy and the green movement that is causing more people to become interested and purchasing solar energy products. This is gradually bringing down the cost of silicon solar cells and making them more affordable.

Some of the research initiatives into lowering costs include producing multi-crystal silicon as opposed to single-crystal silicon, which reduces the cost of materials significantly. Research does continue in this arena which will again reduce the initial investment of solar energy.

Additional attention is being paid to the manufacturing process of silicon solar cells itself. The process does involve screening metal over the surface of the silicone bulk and transport energy across. The current process that applies the metal conducting wires unfortunately leaves gaps and blocks the suns efficiency.  The continued research of methods to fine tune the placement of this metal will also make solar panels more energy efficient.

With the addition of using silver metal to the solar cells, and mirrors that reflect and keep the light within the solar cell itself which causes the energy to build up faster and higher. This in turn helps create more efficient silicon solar panels that can fit into smaller places.

With all this research, it is very likely that more residences will be applying solar energy resources to their homes and businesses in the near future. Why not start today and start taking advantage now? Your energy bills will thank you!