Goal For The Green

Since the energy crisis of the 1970s, scientists and researchers have spent a great deal of time and money looking for alternatives to fossil fuels. Additionally, a host of environmentalist groups have demanded these alternatives be eco-sensitive, serving as clean and renewable energy sources.

To many, solar power is one of the most desirable of all energy sources. The sun shines and strikes Earth whether its energy is used or not, so simply capturing its potential doesn’t add any environmental burden. Moreover, there are ways to use solar energy that prevent any harmful emissions or other environmental issues.

The core focus on using solar energy was initially on the solar, or photovoltaic, cell. Developed for use in space vehicles, the solar cell was adapted quickly to solar panels for use in the home and other applications. The solar panels installed on the roofs of homes are simply arrays of hundreds of these solar cells, and they create a flow of direct current. This electricity is then sent through an inverter, and it enters the home as regular AC electricity. The entire process serves to eliminate the use of electricity generated by the utilities, such as Columbia Utilities and other local utilities throughout the nation.

Increasing Efficiency

The main drawback to the growth in the use of solar energy is the initial cost of installation and ongoing upkeep of the systems. The goal is to have systems that generate a rapid payback and provide ongoing savings by providing sufficient energy in the home or other applications.
The focus on research to achieve this objective is on two areas. First, scientists are trying to improve the efficiency of the solar cell itself. The degree to which the cell converts the energy in the sun’s rays is the measure of its efficiency. While that rate has increased from roughly eight 8 percent in the first cells to 18 to 20 percent today, there are experimental cells that achieve a 40 percent efficiency rating. The more efficient a cell, the fewer needed to provide the desired level of electricity, and the cheaper a total installation.

The second focus of those who wish to see more use of solar energy in the home is on the way the cells and panels are used. Since more than 50 percent of the cost of an initial installation is related to costs other than the cells themselves, this is where a lot of the savings are coming. New approaches such as thin-cell panels and flexible cells allow a different way to use solar in the home. These products can be incorporated into roofing materials and easily installed, producing significant savings.

As science continues to make solar power more affordable and efficient, it will become even more popular as a source of energy for homeowners.