In the second half of the 20th century, there was an explosion in the use of electricity in industrialized countries. The sudden and dramatic increase in electrically powered devices — refrigerators, TVs, air conditioners, computers and smartphones — combined with changes in lifestyle that led to a need for more convenient and reliable sources of power has led to an exponential growth in demand for electricity over the last few decades. Electricity can be generated through a variety of methods. For example, hydroelectric power plants harness water power to generate electricity. This is one of the most common methods used to produce electricity. However, since there are many places with plenty of water but little sunlight, it is not a completely renewable source of energy (although small-scale hydropower plants using solar power cells or even small hydroelectric dams can help make up for this). Another common form of renewable energy is geothermal energy generated from hot springs and deep wells that provide steady levels of heat throughout the year. To harness geothermal energy, machines called geysers are used to create steam that powers turbines that generate electricity. Finally, wind turbines have become another popular source of renewable energy because they can be used almost anywhere and operate at any time. Renewable forms of energy are becoming more important as new technologies continue to improve their efficiency and capacity to generate electricity. Solar energy is one such resource that has seen tremendous growth due to its low cost per kilowatt hour and self-consumption properties—once
What is Solar Energy?
Solar energy is the electromagnetic radiation from the Sun that is received by the Earth and used by plants and animals. Solar power is the use of this energy to generate electricity. Solar panels convert light into electric energy by using photovoltaic cells. Photovoltaic cells are either mono- or poly-crystalline silicon wafers coated with a layer of silicon dioxide. A small portion of the incident light is absorbed by the silicon atoms in the wafer, and the electrons in these atoms are separated from the atoms and are able to conduct an electric current. Mono-crystalline silicon cells have one crystalline silicon layer on a flat substrate, while poly-crystalline silicon cells have multiple layers of crystalline silicon on a flat substrate. Poly-crystalline cells are more efficient than mono-crystalline cells because they have multiple layers of crystalline silicon, which has a higher band gap and higher electron mobility than the single layer of monocrystalline crystalline silicon in a mono-crystalline cell.
Types of Solar Cells
Mono-Si cells – The most commonly used solar cells are monocrystalline cells. Their efficiency is around 11% while poly-Si cells have an efficiency of around 5%. They can be made either with cadmium telluride or amorphous silicon cell technology. Poly-Si cells – The most efficient type of solar cell is the poly-Si technology. Their efficiency is around 23% and are made with cadmium telluride. They have been around for about 20 years, but their efficiency steadily declined over time. This has been resolved with advances in the technology that are helping to bring the efficiency levels back up.
Benefits of Using Solar Energy
– Electricity generated from solar power is completely free and doesn’t pollute the environment. – Each year, solar panels produce a small amount of electricity, so they are a reliable source of power during the rest of the year. – Electricity generated from solar panels is considered to be renewable energy because it comes from the sun. – Solar panels are relatively inexpensive and can save you money each month, so they are an investment that pays off over time.
Advantages of solar panels over photovoltaic cells
– Higher efficiency – Photovoltaic cells have an efficiency of around 5-10%. They are made using monocrystalline silicon technology or polycrystalline silicon technology. – Lower cost per unit – Solar panels are manufactured using multi-junction photovoltaic cells that have a higher efficiency, making them more cost effective. – No maintenance – Solar panels don’t require maintenance or repair.
Disadvantages of using solar energy
– Very small production – A typical solar panel can only generate 0.5 watts of electricity. To power a typical household with electricity needs of 1 kWh per day, the system would need to generate 25,000 watts of electricity. – Small system size – Most households use more than 25,000 watts of electricity per day, so a typical 5,000-watt solar system would not be able to meet the needs of the average household.
Conclusion
Solar energy has been around for a long time, but it was only used as a source of power during the day. But as technology improved, the demand for solar energy increased. Now, solar energy has become a viable option for generating electricity because it is affordable, reliable, sustainable and free from pollution. The demand for solar energy is expected to grow, especially in regions with plenty of sunlight like the Middle East. In the future, solar energy may replace conventional forms of energy generation.