Just about everyone has seen or made use of a calculator which uses solar energy and we realise exactly how convenient they are. There is no need for replacement batteries and they seem to operate indefinitely, provided that there is enough light.
Maybe you have also observed the always increasing use of solar panels in larger products, such as emergency road signs, telephone boxes and light for car parking bays. More and more of these useful devices are being powered by the sun instead of using the more traditional forms of electricity.
So, you ask: Just how do these things work?
The correct answer is photovoltaics. This particular technology has been utilised ever since the late 1950s and was employed mainly in space, operating the electric powered systems in satellites. These days, the technology is used in more every day applications. Some people are convinced that the power of the sun will one day be harnessed to drive effective methods of transportation and that all of our power requirements will be cost free.
Solar pv panels, also known as photovoltaic panels, produce electrical power through the conversion of solar radiation into direct current (dc) electricity employing semiconductors. This direct current is what we gain access to through mains or grid power. An inverter is required to convert dc power to ac, which is the form of electricity used for such purposes as boats, electric cars and roadside emergency telephones.
Each of these solar pv panels have a number of cells and these cells in turn contain photovoltaic material. The most typically used materials are composed of silicon. This material must be protected from the elements: generally this means it is crammed snugly behind a sheet of glass. For circumstances where a greater volume of electrical power is needed, the panels are linked in arrays.
In just ten years,the production of solar pv panels has come to be more efficient, as a consequence of a rising demand for renewable energy sources. Photovoltaic panels are producing electricity in more than 100 countries internationally; despite the simple fact that this electricity supply is just a tiny portion of the globe’s electricity production, it is the most rapidly developing technology of its form .
These technological improvements have also resulted in agreeable information pertaining to the consumer : the size and excellence of manufacturing has expanded, whilst the price of photovoltaic panels has lessened. A win-win situation!
Governing bodies in many countries internationally have also introduced bonuses for consumers to install solar pv panels, including rebates and feed-in tariffs. Remote towns and villages do not have to rely on the typically prohibitive costs of connection to a grid when they use solar energy. This allows telecommunications access to all corners of the planet, both on land and at sea.
PV panels also contribute to making roads less dangerous, with the use of emergency and warning lights to advise drivers of road work or unsafe driving conditions. This in turn has the potential to save lives, using a cost effective means.
In less developed countries, solar energy is a cost effective means by which the vast majority of the population can have the use of electricity and as a result lead a better quality of life. It enables electrification of schools and community centres. When individuals can access power, it can increase the time by which productive work can happen, allowing for night time craft work to add to other forms of income. In natural disaster circumstances, emergency medical relief groups have the ability to set up well equipped triage centres.
Photovoltaic panels have also been produced for recreational use: to power campsites for the adventurer or to deliver a reliable source of electricity for a computer when travelling.
As we see non-renewable resources such as coal and gas diminish, it makes sense to take advantage of the sun’s rays.
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