We have all become accustomed to seeing solar energy in action. You can get pocket panels, charge the phone or you can make them heat hot water many times. With the development of technologies for renewable energy, we can expect to see products more useful and interesting than ever, but now and what we want to see in the near future, what can?
What do you like the shape of the solar panels?
That is on the roof of a clock or industrial buildings, we see almost every solar panel is flat. It is mainly the manufacturing process. The most common type of polysilicon (sometimes referred to as polysilicon), made of multiple layers of silicon, and the result is a lack of flexibility. Even more modern type (and more efficient) monocrystalline still relatively fragile. This has begun to change the use of film (or amorphous) panel, where the steam spray silicon as the substrate, so beautiful, is technically known as a gas! The resulting panel can be curved, giving greater flexibility in the design. Sounds good, but now it is not a complete solution. On the one hand, the film is lower than the efficiency of monocrystalline silicon. Then there is the actual use of solar energy equipment. Must capture the sun, so that the bending away from any part of the light source inevitably reduce output.
But never completely overcome this drawback, Massachusetts Institute of Technology is being developed around the shape of the panel who want to be able to take an idea. Use graphene, carbon material and molybdenum disulfide, have managed to create a work of the solar cell is only two atoms thick. Their energy efficiency as it may seem poor just 1 or 2 percent of a traditional panel – but it is less than one thousandth of the thickness. There is no reason why it can not be stacked one above the other, so its potential application seems almost inexhaustible.
Practical application
So we know that the technology is available to continue to produce more energy, but the daily application?
Now it is quite realistic we can run your laptop or your camping light, portable solar power. It ‘also possible to make your food. No less than solar oven basic cardboard covered with a sheet of metal can probably do just but the commercial versions to choose from, can be a good temperature exceeds 300 ° Fahrenheit. Put your food into a black pot with a lid, pop in the oven, you can eat hot food, no matter where you go. They used a magnifying glass to burn paper or wood? Imagine this concept and use it to forge metals. This is the power of green science and technology was in Tampa, Florida. With little more than a large Fresnel lens, in a wooden frame, reached a temperature of 3800 ° C. Okay, not the most practical idea, but it shows the two extremes you can take solar energy.
Perhaps even more useful are solar scooter. Toys for children (instead of the vehicle by the Mods popular) modeled, distinguish the entire platform is made of photovoltaic cells. Scooters results can only do 15 mph, but it was actually pretty cool, than the average biker, you can easily charge ranges between 20 miles to town.
After our water heating and guide our homes, so we can be said to be the largest market for any device. Where we transfer solar energy?
Currently, most of the cars of battery power of renewable energy not usually feed the light of the sun, and in a more traditional means. However, there are several solar car around and although a bit ‘strange, wonderful left side you see on local roads anytime soon, at least they are at the stage where more people can get to them. Actually from Eindhoven, the Netherlands, the development of the project STE in the first car in the world, the four adults, and also space to boot. It will do about 600 miles on a single charge, the maximum speed is 110 kilometers per hour. Not fast, but it shows how technology advances quickly.
The ultimate proof that the Solar Impulse, solar-powered aircraft to fly through the recent east and west coasts of the United States. You could take 105 hours 41 minutes, but it is still a remarkable achievement. In case you think that is yet another demonstration of renewable energy, it really does not have a real application, you might want to look at the history of aviation. In 1903, the Wright brothers first flight, but less than 25 years of international commercial flights on the agenda. One has to ask, is not it.