One of the reasons we like to plant trees is because they take the CO2 out of the air. If we could do that [with a solar cell], then we could actually deal with global warming problems even more directly because we'd be pulling the CO2 out of the air to make our fuel.
How good are current solar cells at capturing light energy?
So we can talk about the power efficiency. The power efficiency of a typical crystalline silicon cell is in the 22 to 23 percent [range, meaning they convert as much as 23 percent of the light striking them into electricity]. The ones that you typically might be able to afford to put on your rooftop are lower than that, somewhere between 15 and 18 percent. The most efficient, like the ones that go on satellites, might have power efficiencies approaching 50 percent.
The power efficiency is one measure, but the other thing that we're very concerned about is the cost of making them and the scale of production.
In my opinion, the silicon technology doesn't scale [up] too well [because it's expensive to make]. We need to invent some new technology, [which] may not be as efficient, but you need to be able to make millions of acres of stuff if you want to get a lot of energy. People are trying to use new materials like plastics and nanoparticles.
The total solar production in 2004 was around one thousandth of the total power consumption of the U.S. It's just not enough. Something's gotta change. We're not there yet. There's a lot of discoveries still to be made.
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Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAn MIT professor has been working on an artificial photosynthesis type energy system that could revolutionize solar technology.
http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2008/oxygen-0731.html
It still may be some time before commercial use is realized but it is exciting none the less.
How expensive would it be to try to make the solar cells more efficient at capturing the light and then converting it into electricity? Maybe we should be looking into that and not just other technologies. Once we've found a good source, and a reasonably effective one, we Should try to better it and by doing so we will save money in the long run. I still think that constant research is a must but I don't see a reason to completely abandon what we've started!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thiswhy is it that the amount of solar energy generated not enough?is it that the intensity of the sun rays over there not is much?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThat we have not yet utilised a resource we know is < for all intents and purposes> limitless, is a telling tale of us as a species. We kill ourselves over something exhaustible, and stifle developement < by inaction and negative action > of technologies we know will make all our lives better.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIn the time it takes you to login and comment you can do a few things:
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this1) Look up the average power per square meter of sunlight hitting the earth.
2) Look up the average efficiency of cutting edge solar panel technology
3) Look up the annual energy consumption per capita/of the US/of the world.
4) Calculate the size of an international sea based solar panel stationed at the equator!
We have limited ourselves to high tech companies researching solutions for us. Have we considered other alternate technologies to generate power, like solar telsa turbines? Anyone can make one of these and they generate more useable, cheaper, and much easier to produce energy than photovoltaics. Energy that anyone can produce with few simple parts as opposed to a few companies producing expensive solar panels. Any suggestions why researchers research projects few will be able to build?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisi said how dose solar power work in nature
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisComment by Ron Walkr (Ron Walker) 10-20-2008 02:17pm. Are you the same Ron Walker who owns a company called Australian Nuclear Energy . The same Ron Walker who has been lobbying for nuclear power industries in Ausralia? Of course you believe it should be "part of the persuasion" sorry "equation". Perhaps an unfortunate coincidence of birth name,perhaps not.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWhat about solar power, we could use that.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWhy don,t we just use solar powered energy
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thishow can we build a simple system? and what is the assurance n ROI?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisCan someone tell me w r t the Return on Investment (ROI) ...once convinced .....I would seriously get into this
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisROI -can i have more info on te returns on investment...I can even go in a big way to produce these system...commercial purpose.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisthank you for trying to make gobal warming stop and looking for a way to not create co2 in our air and gas and another way to get fuel but i advise u if u found some powerful engry force a way i rekon u could really help our world is to use another type of engry for a motor (car Transport) instered of using fuel could u try to crerate some kind of mineral to crerate liqurad of engry or a engry that make a exsplostion from a spark plug or any other way to make a exsplostion. if u done that u would make history of man kind if u found some way if u found a sorce of energy thank you if u read this by Damon hayden.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisthank you for trying to make gobal warming stop and looking for a way to not create co2 in our air and gas and another way to get fuel but i advise u if u found some powerful engry force a way i rekon u could really help our world is to use another type of engry for a motor (car Transport) instered of using fuel could u try to crerate some kind of mineral to crerate liqurad of engry or a engry that make a exsplostion from a spark plug or any other way to make a exsplostion. if u done that u would make history of man kind if u found some way if u found a sorce of energy thank you if u read this by Damon hayden.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisthank you for trying to make gobal warming stop and looking for a way to not create co2 in our air and gas and another way to get fuel but i advise u if u found some powerful engry force a way i rekon u could really help our world is to use another type of engry for a motor (car Transport) instered of using fuel could u try to crerate some kind of mineral to crerate liqurad of engry or a engry that make a exsplostion from a spark plug or any other way to make a exsplostion. if u done that u would make history of man kind if u found some way if u found a sorce of energy thank you if u read this by Damon hayden.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisthank you for trying to make gobal warming stop and looking for a way to not create co2 in our air and gas and another way to get fuel but i advise u if u found some powerful engry force a way i rekon u could really help our world is to use another type of engry for a motor (car Transport) instered of using fuel could u try to crerate some kind of mineral to crerate liqurad of engry or a engry that make a exsplostion from a spark plug or any other way to make a exsplostion. if u done that u would make history of man kind if u found some way if u found a sorce of energy thank you if u read this by Damon hayden.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHere is a really cool video that explains the whole process and a history of how the whole solar energy concept was created and where we are at now...
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisLook here:
http://www.yoursolarlink.com/how-does-solar-power-work
Coll video/animation and explanation on "How Does Solar Power Work" here:
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thishttp://www.yoursolarlink.com/how-does-solar-power-work
im doing a history report on solar power and i cant find anything for it beside the stuff saying solar panles and how they work but i need facts about the plain solar power help!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWhat is the advantages of solar generator?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSolar generator is an environmental friendly equipment that can use anywhere. You can save the earth by having good equipment like a solar generator. What are the advantages of a solar generator? If you don't know, check out sunpowerport.com. The featured generator will run most small electrical appliances. It is great for camping or emergency backup. No noise. No fumes. For more details see http://www.sunpowerport.com
weell solar energy is offfff the hizzy fo shizzy dawg
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI'm not a scientist. When I was a kid we used a magnifying glass to do silly stuff like burn ants and cause matches to ignite. Could it be as simple as an old fashion boiler using water, not silicon chips, that create old fashioned steam thus driving turbines that create electricity?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisRegardless of what anyone says..solar just makes sense so it's time we start moving forward.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thishttp://www.sunriseenergynow.com
A question. If the photon excites the electron into jumping over the band gap (if there is complete circuit)what happens to that electron if there is not place to go (no complete circuit) what happens to that energy?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI'm not going to say what everyone else has already said, but I do want to comment on your knowledge of the topic. Youre truly well-informed. I cant believe how much of this I just wasnt aware of. Thank you for bringing more information to this topic for me. Im truly grateful and really impressed.Recommend a solar water heater production sites: http://www.ejaisolar.com/
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI think that the solar power works with the sun. I read this article http://www.sunpowerport.com for additional information how the solar power works.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thiswe will be dead :l living creatures and plants cannot survive without light and heat.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisTo be honest, this method isn't exactly free. The renewable energy source (solar) may be, but to convert it to electricity using solar panels costs a great amoutn of money, and it takes years to generate enough energy to get your money back :L
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