There’s been a recent and cool new breakthrough in solar power technology. Scientists at NREL have developed a way to use chemicals in order to etch a trillion microscopic holes in silicon wafers. So what does this mean for the solar industry? Actually it might mean quite a bit especially in solar power costs.
The scientists start with a cylindrical wafer of silicon and introduce chloroauric acid which creates nano-particles of gold that then etch into the silicon in such small diameter that it would take 40 of these holes to equal one human hair.
Light comes from the sun as protons and then can be converted into electrons for our use. The problem lies in the fact that the protons bounce off of surfaces and the potential energy is then lost. This is where the tiny little holes come in. Through the addition of these holes being etched into the gray [...]
Photo used under Creative Commons from jhritz
If you are looking to add a solar power system to your residence but you absolutely hate the look and bulkiness of photo-valtaic panels (Solar Panels), than solar roof tiles or solar shingles might be exactly what your looking for.
Solar roof tiles are shingles that operate in he same way as solar panels. Meaning they use the same technology and properties as solar panels to generate electricity by using the suns natural photons to create DC which is then converted into AC for use within your home. Solar shingles are designed to look like regular roof tiles and come in many different shapes, sizes and colors. Because of this they are a much more subtle and aesthetically pleasing package plus they offer the same benefits of it’s bulkier counterparts such as drastically reduced electricity bills, and non negative affects on the environment. Win, [...]
