Germany has always been a world leader in both the production and use of solar panels. Known as the world’s pre-eminent engineers, the German industrial base has the knack of designing and creating some of the best engineered products in the world.

The country has also been a leader in the uptake of solar power, despite not being the sunniest place in the world. The recent announcement that the government will completely scrap nuclear power stations by 2022, is another step forward for renewable energy and the humble solar panel.

While much of the difference will be made up of wind power, the uptake of solar is set to increase too. Already one of the biggest proponents of solar PV power generations, Germany is hopefully setting a precedent by moving away from what is an unpopular fuel.

The German Chancellor, Mrs. Merkel said that in its “fundamental” rethink of policy, Germany could set an example for other countries.

“We believe we as a country can be a trailblazer for a new age of renewable energy sources,” the German chancellor was quoted as saying by AFP news agency.
“We can be the first major industrialized country that achieves the transition to renewable energy with all the opportunities – for exports, development, technology, jobs – it carries with it.”

While I will always promote solar power, any renewable energy is a good energy. So the country’s move from nuclear to renewable has to be applauded. Once a country as respected as Germany makes it work, other countries are sure to follow.

Other European countries can look at the German example and how popular it will be with the people, and want a piece of that political pie. Spain is another large user of solar panels, and the next logical step in the chain. While not as respected on the world stage as Germany, it will be another practical example of a world where nuclear power is in decline.

With Britain having announced they were planning to build more nuclear power stations, it would be nice to think they would reconsider that move in the light of the German change.

With the events in Fukushima still ringing loudly in our ears, governments of the world must be looking at the technology with a different set of eyes. It is my sincere hope that they abandon it in favor of renewable options in the future.

On our own shores, it will be a while before we even acknowledge what is going on in the rest of the world, and only then will things be looked at again. We have one of the best climates for solar power in the world, and some of the best manufacturers of solar panels. It would be a shame not to make the best of both.

In a release that sounds more like science fiction movies of old than reality, the Japanese announced plans for a project to put solar panels in a ring around the moon. Scientists unveiled the plan yesterday at a press conference in Japan.

The idea is to put solar panels in a ring around the moon and transmit the power back to earth via laser or microwave link. The scientists estimate they would be able to produce up to 13,000 terawatts of electricity which would be received by specially designed receiving stations on earth.

With the events at Fukushima, and the relative instability of the Japanese islands, nuclear power is understandably out of favor right now. This means we are beginning to have to look elsewhere for our power.

The plans were unveiled by Japanese construction giant Shimizu Corporation’s research division, and would result in a 6,800 mile-long band of solar panels stretching around the light side of the moon’s equator. It would be up to 248 miles wide and have a 12 mile-wide antennae to transmit the power back to earth.

In a further press release on the Shimizu website, it said: ‘A shift from economical use of limited resources to the unlimited use of clean energy is the ultimate dream of all mankind.

‘The Luna Ring, our lunar solar power generation concept, translates this dream into reality through ingenious ideas coupled with advanced space technologies. ‘Virtually inexhaustible, non-polluting solar energy is the ultimate source of green energy that brings prosperity to nature as well as our lives.

‘Shimizu Corporation proposes the Luna Ring for the infinite coexistence of mankind and the Earth.’ (Quote)

The company’s ambitious project would solve the world’s energy problems in one fell swoop were it ever to see the light of day. It could produce enough power for the entire planet and reduce carbon emissions by millions of tons each year.

The idea would require a lot of time in space, and robots to maintain the system. Just when the world powers are scaling back exploratory missions into space. The big challenge isn’t just technological. It’s also about the cost.

There is no mention of the cost here, but it is likely to be in the hundreds of billions of dollars. They scientists say they think the soil on the moon could provide water, concrete, oxygen and the ceramics necessary for the project. If they were able to harvest and manufacture the materials while on the moon, it could save a significant amount of that cost.

Whether this plan ever comes to fruition or not, it proves that renewable energy really is the future. Solar panels around the moon, large scale commercial solar power stations and other renewable sources of energy are creeping their way into our world.

I hope this project gets the go-ahead. It would be nice if world governments cooperated for once, and it would be nice to like on a planet that didn’t have to contend with nuclear power.

The main disadvantage of traditional solar panels is efficiency. The cells can only capture a specific wavelength of light. This has been the biggest challenge to solar panel manufacturers since the technology first emerged. Well, a new development from scientists at the University of Missouri may have changed all that.

Standard solar cells only have an efficiency of around 15 – 20 percent. Even the newer thin panels can’t do much better than that. New “nantenna” technology may have the answer.

Scientists are claiming that a new device, dubbed the nantenna can capture 90 percent of available light. To do this, a new material has been developed which contains a thin, moldable sheet of small antennas called nantenna.

The material converts heat to electricity and can be used both for industrial heat recycling and for residential solar panels. It is capable of collecting both visible sunlight and the near infrared band sunlight that traditional solar cells cannot harvest.

One of the lead scientists, Professor Pinhero is now working to turn the nantenna into a commercially viable product. The U.S. Department of Energy and private investors are being asked for funding to accomplish this. Quote courtesy of University of Missouri:

“Our overall goal is to collect and utilize as much solar energy as is theoretically possible and bring it to the commercial market in an inexpensive package that is accessible to everyone,” Professor Pinhero states. ”If successful, this product will put us orders of magnitudes ahead of the current solar energy technologies we have available to us today.”

This new technology could revolutionize the way we harvest solar energy if it’s able to be made commercially available. The ability to harvest 90 percent of light means smaller solar panels, smaller arrays and could really bring solar energy to the masses. The high efficiency would enable those who don’t live in particularly sunny climates to also join the solar revolution. It’s an exciting time!

Of course, there’s no use getting excited just yet. While the theory and laboratory testing seems to bear out the claims, it’s a different matter altogether to be able to bring a product like this to market. Many a great idea has been lost because businesses couldn’t find a way to make money from it.

However, if the product could be made available, and the price is right, things will change very quickly. Once the initial hype has dissipated and the price brought down to reasonable levels, solar panels will really be available to all. Solar will become a realistic alternative energy. Maybe even a replacement for dirty power stations, and even nuclear.

With any industry, especially technical ones comes jargon. It’s a series of terms that evolve from the names of products, parts or materials used in them. It starts slowly, and as insiders become familiar with each other and the industry, it grows from there.

Solar power is no different. I was checking the other day, and was surprised at the amount of jargon that was involved even with simple solar panels.

Sociologists say that jargon evolves to separate those on the inside from those on the out. That we use it to judge someone’s worthiness or knowledge of our trade. While that may be true, it isn’t done on purpose. Words and terms evolve without our noticing. As we work in the industry every day, we pick it up as we go along.

Solar panels are simple devices, yet there are quite a few words used that the layman may not understand. Here is where that ends. The following are some common terms used within our industry that may exclude those from the outside.

Monocrystalline silicon cell

The most expensive photovoltaic cell, but the most efficient one. Cut from a single crystal of silicon, the cell is one big piece. It can harness around 15 percent of the sun’s energy when used in a solar panel.

Multicrystalline silicon cell

Solar panels made from silicon cut into wafers. It’s less efficient than monocrystalline cells, but also cheaper. It’s easier to manufacture and has only a slight drop in efficiency.

Amorphous

A thin layer of silicon sprayed on to another material to make solar roof tiles. They are still as efficient as multicrystalline cells, but much cheaper and easier to manufacture. Similar to thin film technology.

Feed-In

Where most of us make the solar power system pay for itself. Solar PV is a significant investment. It does save us money on our energy bills, but thanks to incentives from the government, we can sell our excess energy to the power companies at a fixed rate. Feeding in our power to the grid.

Passive solar

An industry term for windows or anything that collects heat during the day. It’s harvested from sunlight then preserved through proper insulation. It doesn’t generate electricity like solar panels, but helps keep the property warm.

Active solar

To actively harvest power from sunlight. Solar panels and PV systems are active solar systems. Even though there are no moving parts, and the solar panels just sit there collecting light, it’s still regarded as an active process.

PV

Probably the most used word in our industry. Photovoltaics is the process of generating electricity from solar panels. Silicon, and the newer materials have properties that generate current when exposed to sunlight. This current is harnessed and directed through the solar cell. That’s the process that generates power from a solar array.

Those are just a few of the common terms used in the industry. I’m sure I could think of more given the time.

Sounds too good to be true right? It’s an interesting notion and one that warrants further discussion I think. Let’s be honest, even with the best will in the world, not everyone can raise the money needed to install a complete solar power system. The average system will probably come in at over $12,000, which is out of reach of many right now.

I was contacted last week by a lady in California who had been approached by a company offering to install solar panels for free. Naturally she thought it was some kind of scam and sent the salesman on his way. However, it may not have been.

There are companies springing up who are set to take advantage of FiTs, or Feed-in-Tariffs that are in place in around a dozen states right now. They are also commonly referred to as net-metering schemes. These are arrangements where utility companies will buy your excess energy for a set amount per KwH.

These feed in tariffs are nothing new, they have been around for years. Ever since 1978 in fact, when Jimmy Carter enacted the National Energy Act (NEA) and the Public Utilities Regulatory Policy Act (PURPA).

While great in theory, the utilities didn’t really play ball and offer realistic process for home-generated electricity. This scheme worked better in Europe where governments enforced a minimum price per unit and made it more viable to use in homes.

So free solar panels? The idea behind these companies is that they offer to install a solar PV system for free on roofs that are suitable for them. They then contract you to keep the panels for 25 years. The company maintains them, insures them and makes sure they are in good working condition for that time.

In return, they get to keep the FiT payments from the utility company for that period. Given that in some states that can be pretty decent per unit, they stand to make quite a lot of money.

The householder gets a free solar panel setup and drastically reduced electricity bills for that time. They also get near-constant power, energy security and reasonable protection from brown- or blackouts.

So is it a good deal? Sort of. If you stand no chance of raising the money to install your own solar energy system, then they are a good idea. You get cheaper bills, the company gets your net-metering money. Everybody wins, and there is one less household contributing to global warming.

However, if you can afford the system, or can borrow the money to have one installed, it’s much better to do it yourself. It will pay for itself within 8 or so years, and then provide a small income for the rest of its life.

In this scenario, that means a further 17 years of offering a little extra in your account each year from selling your excess. While it won’t make you rich, it can mitigate other household expenses.

With any emerging technology there is an element of jargon involved. It comes with the territory. It isn’t always to keep the layman out, it evolves as new products are developed and named. Solar panels are no different, a relatively straightforward system has an inordinate amount of jargon attached.

We have been discussing solar power systems for a while now, so let’s just make sure we’re on the same page. We’re going to go through some of the most popular here and simplify everything. If you’re looking to buy solar panels, or build an entire system, you need the facts, in plain English.

Amorphous
An amorphous solar panel is made from a thin layer of silicon sprayed on to a backing material to make solar roof tiles. As the silicon is much thinner than the silicon wafers in a typical crystalline solar cell, production costs are reduced.
Normally, solar panels are made from multicrystalline and monocrystalline cells, which are described below.

Evacuated tubes
These are a type of solar water-heating panel. Evacuated glass tubes have the air removed, which is where it gets its name. They are made from ultra-strong and heat resistant Pyrex.

Feed-in Tariff
The Feed-in Tariff schemes allow you to sell any unused or excess electricity to the grid. Systems that can do this are also referred to a “grid-tied” solar power systems. It’s a secondary way of making the system pay for itself over the longer term.

Photovoltaics, PV
PV cells are thin layers of semi-conducting silicon. Electrical charge is generated when they are exposed to sunlight, which is conducted away as direct current. Multiple cells are connected together encased in glass to make up a solar panel.

Pressurized System
A pressurized system is for solar water heating. Water is pumped through the solar panel and heated by the sun. This water then flows through a heat exchanger, warming the water stored in a hot water cylinder.

Solar Tiles
Solar tiles use the same technology as photovoltaic cells, but are smaller and narrower than large PV panels and look like roof tiles. They use amorphous silicon as opposed to the crystalline materials.

Solar Water Heating
Water is pumped through a solar panel and heated by the sun. The hot water then flows through a heat exchanger, warming the water in a hot water cylinder. See pressurized system above.

Monocrystalline Silicon Cells
The most efficient and expensive PV cell available to make solar panels. They are cut from a large crystal of silicon. Monocrystalline solar panels can harness around 15 percent of the sun’s energy that falls on it. This efficiency is increasing as technology develops.

Multicrystalline Silicon Cells
A solar panel made from silicon cut into wafers. Multicrystalline panels are cheaper than Monocrystalline, but are also less efficient. As their name suggests, they are not cut from a single crystal, but are made up of multiple wafers.

Now, hopefully that little explanation will have dispelled a few myths about solar panels and power systems. If there are still things you aren’t sure of, feel free to leave a comment or get in touch.

Solar energy is rightly viewed as the renewable power of the future. It’s readily available, free to generate and causes no pollution. It’s suitable for both large scale and residential use, as long as you live somewhere that gets enough sun! It’s a relatively simple technology, and going to become mainstream soon.

Solar power revolves around photovoltaics (PV). This is the term used for the conversion of light into energy. A solar panel is a collection of semiconductors which are able to catch the energy from the sun’s rays and store it. It works much like a battery, only an infinitely rechargeable one.

Inside those semiconductors are billions of electrons, which get excited by sunlight. These electrons are static to begin with, but as soon as they get energy from light, they are then free to move around. Semiconductors are designed to only allow electrons to flow in a particular direction, this is what generates current.

There are two connectors on the semiconductor allows that energy to be tapped. The current generated by those electrons is converted into usable voltages and sent into the building mains to be used. Again, like a battery. As the power is drained from the semiconductor they are either recharged by the sun, or go still and “run down.”

This cycle continues while there is sunlight available, the electrons are recharged as they are drained, or stay charged until they either wear down, or are drained. An excited electron isn’t in perpetual motion. Over time, the energy stored in the electron wears out as it’s used for motion. Once the electron has used up its store, it becomes still. Then the cycle begins again.

Despite popular belief you don’t have to live in Nevada to enjoy solar power. While the stronger sunlight does have definite advantages, anywhere that gets a decent amount of daylight should benefit from the technology.
Many of the wavelengths produced by the sun are invisible to the eye. So when it’s overcast or cloudy, solar power can still operate, albeit at a lower efficiency. That’s because some of those wavelengths still penetrate the cloud cover and hit the photovoltaic cells. Energy is still generated and power will still be available.

While it’s possible for a home to be completely powered by solar energy and go “off grid,” it is rare. The system is extremely reliable, needs very little maintenance and has an average life of between 10 to 15 years. However, there will be days where there is little or no sunlight available, so it’s impractical to live without mains power on those days.

Solar power also offers money making potential. If it generates more power than is needed it’s possible to sell it to the power company. This arrangement is beneficial, although few homes generate enough power to make serious cash. It’s still an extra bonus and will help offset the installation costs.

The exact details of these kinds of deals obviously vary depending on your utility company, but it’s definitely worth checking out if you’re considering converting to solar power.