Economical Solar Panels to Yield More Energy

There has been research work going on to increase the efficiency of the cost-effective amorphous solar panels. TU Delft has been the center where this research work is being developed. The research will directly help in increasing the efficiency of amorphous solar cells – from a 7% to a 9%. Crystalline silicon is most commonly used in silicon solar cells which increases the production cost quite significantly. There is a more economical type of solar panels using amorphous silicon using rather thin films of silicon. The production cost is comparatively less with these panels.

Reduced yield:
The disadvantage of amorphous solar cells is that they do not have as high a yield as the cells that use crystalline silicon. Compared to the yield of about 18% from the crystalline silicon, the amorphous silicon cells have been yielding only about 7% until now.

Staebler-Wronski effect:
The reason for the comparatively low yield of amorphous silicon panels is because they are suffering from Staebler-Wronski effect which reduces the yield from 10% to 7% in the very first hours of sun exposure. Not much has been known about why this effect occurs and that too why with the amorphous silicon solar panels.

Research on amorphous silicon solar cells:
Gijs van Elzakker has been doing research on amorphous solar cells and presented his research paper for his Ph D on this subject on July 6, 2010. He focussed on how to make the amorphous cells give a higher yield. He realized overcoming the Staebler-Wronski effect will go a long way in improving the performance of amorphous solar panels.

Mitigating the Staebler-Wronski effect:
The thin silicon film layers in the amorphous solar panels are made of silane gas (SiH4). Van Elzakker found out that Staebler-Wronski effect can be alleviated by diluting the silane gas with hydrogen at an optimum ratio. In Van Elzakker’s words, “We showed that the influence of the Staebler-Wronski effect can be considerably reduced in this way.

Applying findings in production:
Inventux Technologies, a German Company, has already started utilizing Gijs van Elzakker’s findings in production. Thanks to this principle, a yield of 9% is expected from deploying the amorphous silicon solar panels the way Van Elzakker visualized.

Interested in writing news articles about alternative energy? Contact Us

View the original article here

Lower Power Bills With Alternative Energy Homes

How much do you spend per month on your electricity bill? So do you think it is possible for you to cut that cost significantly?

Alternative energy homes are not just the new "in" thing they are saving the homeowner money every day while also saving the environment. Homeowners across the nation and in fact all over the world are quickly coming to this realization. 

Alternative energy homes can partially or completely allow their owners to live more independently from the grid and the ever rising costs of energy generated by exhaustible resources. Alternative living simply adds up to monthly savings for homeowners. 

Alternative Energy Choices

The energy that we use today comes from limited resources such as natural gasses, oil, and coal. As limited things go, the costs of using them can only increase as we decrease the supply.

Fortunately for us, there are available renewable energy sources. The only problem is that we have not shown enough initiative and willingness to use them.

Truthfully, the initial cost of switching to alternative energy systems can be expensive.   This alternative must be looked at over the long term. The savings will be realized in monthly increments over time.

Now, unlike those resources mentioned earlier, renewable energy sources are easily found and can be used by anyone who is willing to invest in systems to collect energy from them.

Since there isn't a fee involved for the use of sunlight, wind or water then these will be your alternatives to research for the needs of your family. 

For example, if you live in a cold location and are constantly in need of water heating, instead of drawing electricity from the grid to fulfill this need you may install a solar domestic hot water system.

If you live in a climate where there is an abundance of sun you may consider a solar energy system. You'll be converting the sun to electricity to power your home. 

In climates where the wind is a factor then a turbine wind system would be a consideration. This would be something that you might even consider building yourself.  

Those who live near a running stream can research and consider a micro-hydro system to generate their own electricity. 

There should be at least one viable renewable energy source where your family lives.  And in some cases you may live in a climate or area where you can take advantage of more than one type of renewable energy source. You may at some point be able to eliminate your monthly utility bills by making the change. 

How You Save

Of course, you know by now that it is entirely possible for you to go off-grid with one or two renewable energy systems installed for your home. Keep in mind that although the initial expense may be costly, the long term savings will be significant and will continue to pay for itself as time goes on.  

Another consideration will be your willingness to be mindful of your energy use. You and your family may need to review how you use energy every day and make some changes. Efficient use of your energy will be key to make this all work. 

Conservation will be taking care to do simple things every day such as turning off appliances when they're not in use. A few simply changes will go a long way. 

You may also want to begin to install more energy efficient appliances. Those that you have had for several years are probably using more energy than the newer models.  

By putting in more energy efficient appliances and being more mindful of how you and your family use energy you will begin to see immediate savings. Add to that a new renewable energy system and you're on your way to saving money and the environment. 

The answer to the questions presented earlier is simple. With alternative energy homes and your efforts to conserve energy, big savings are guaranteed in the years to come.

So stop just dreaming about it and start getting into it.  Sounds like a great family project!

Jack Bailey is a freelance writer and green home energy enthusiast. It's Jack's goal to help home owners learn how to save money on their energy bills while they help make the planet a better place to live.

For more information on home energy efficiency, try visiting http://www.homeenergyadvisory.com, a website that provides tips, advice and resources on home energy efficiency, and how to save on your monthly energy bills.