Solar energy is ... Using solar panels

In recent years, scientists are particularly interested in alternative energy sources. Oil and gas will end sooner or later, so we have to think about how we will survive in this situation right now. In Europe, wind turbines are actively used, someone is trying to extract energy from the ocean, and we will talk about solar energy. After all, the star, which we see almost every day in the sky, can help us to save non-renewable resources and improve the ecological situation. The importance of the sun for the Earth can not be overestimated - it gives warmth, light and allows all life on the planet to function. So why not find him another application?

A bit of history

In the middle of the 19th century physicist Alexander Edmond Becquerel discovered the photovoltaic effect. And by the end of the century, Charles Fritz created the first device capable of processing solar energy into electricity. For this, selenium, coated with a thin layer of gold, was used. The effect was weak, but it is this invention that is often associated with the beginning of the era of solar energy. Some scholars disagree with this formulation. They call the ancestor of the era of solar energy world-famous scientist Albert Einstein. In 1921 he received the Nobel Prize for explaining the laws of the external photoelectric effect.

It would seem that solar energy is a promising way of development. But there are many obstacles for it to enter every home, mainly economic and environmental. What makes up the cost of solar batteries, what harm they can cause to the environment and what other methods of obtaining energy are available, we will find out below.

Ways of accumulation

The most urgent task related to the domestication of the energy of the sun is not only its reception, but also accumulation. And it is this that is the most difficult. At present, scientists have developed only 3 ways to fully tame solar energy.

The first is based on the use of a parabolic mirror and is a bit like a game with a magnifying glass, which everyone knows from childhood. Through the lens, the light passes, gathering at a single point. If you put a piece of paper in this place, it will light up, as the temperature of crossed sun rays is incredibly high. The parabolic mirror is a concave disk resembling a shallow bowl. This mirror, unlike the magnifying glass, does not let through, but reflects the sunlight, collecting it at one point, which is usually directed at a black pipe with water. This color is used because it absorbs light best. The water in the pipe is heated by the sun's rays and can be used to generate electricity or to heat small houses.

Flat heater

In this method, a completely different system is used. The receiver of solar energy looks like a multi-layered structure. The principle of his work looks like this.

Passing through the glass, the rays fall on a darkened metal, which, as is known, absorbs light better. Solar radiation is converted into thermal energy and heats the water that is under the iron plate. Then everything happens as in the first method. Heated water can be used either for heating rooms or for generating electrical energy. True, the effectiveness of such a method is not so high as to use it universally.

As a rule, the solar energy received in this way is heat. To obtain electricity, the third method is much more often used.

Solar cells

Most of all we are familiar with this way of obtaining energy. It involves the use of various batteries or solar panels, which can be found on the roofs of many modern houses. This method is more complicated than previously described, but it is much more promising. It is he who makes it possible to convert the energy of the sun into electricity on an industrial scale.

Special panels, designed for catching rays, are made from enriched silicon crystals. Sunlight, getting on them, knocks an electron from orbit. In its place, the other immediately strives, thus obtaining a continuous mobile chain, which creates a current. If necessary, it is immediately used to provide devices or accumulates in the form of electricity in special batteries.

The popularity of this method is justified by the fact that it allows you to get more than 120 watts from just one square meter of solar battery. At the same time, the panels have a relatively small thickness, which allows them to be placed almost everywhere.

Types of Silicon Panels

There are several types of solar panels. The first ones were made using single-crystal silicon. Their efficiency is about 15%. Such solar panels are the most expensive.

The efficiency of elements made of polycrystalline silicon reaches 11%. They cost less, because the material for them is obtained by a simplified technology. The third type is the most economical and has the lowest efficiency. These are panels of amorphous silicon, that is, non-crystalline. In addition to low efficiency, they have another significant drawback - fragility.

Some manufacturers use both sides of the solar panel - rear and front to increase the efficiency. This allows you to capture light in large volumes and increases the amount of energy received by 15-20%.

Domestic producers

Solar energy on Earth is becoming more widespread. Even in our country are interested in studying this industry. Despite the fact that in Russia the development of alternative energy is not very active, some success has been achieved. Currently, several organizations are engaged in the creation of panels for the generation of solar energy - mainly scientific institutes of various orientations and factories for the production of electrical equipment.

1. NPF "Quark".
2. OAO Kovrov Mechanical Plant.
3. All-Russian Research Institute of Agriculture Electrification.
4. NPO of mechanical engineering.
5. JSC VIENN.
6. Open Society "the Ryazan factory of metal ceramic instruments".
7. AOOT Pravdinsky pilot plant of current sources "Posit".

This is only a small part of the enterprises taking an active part in the development of alternative energy in Russia.

Impact on the environment

Refusal from coal and oil sources of energy is connected not only with the fact that these resources will end sooner or later. The fact is that they severely harm the environment - pollute the soil, air and water, contribute to the development of diseases in people and reduce immunity. That is why alternative energy sources should be ecologically safe.

Silicon, which is used for the production of photocells, is in itself safe, because it is a natural material. But after cleaning, waste remains. They can harm people and the environment if used improperly.

In addition, on a site completely enclosed by solar panels, natural light can be disturbed . This will lead to changes in the existing ecosystem. But in general, the impact on the environment of devices designed to convert solar energy, is minimal.

Economical

The biggest costs for the production of solar batteries are associated with the high cost of raw materials. As we have already explained, special panels are created using silicon. Despite the fact that this mineral is widely distributed in nature, its problems are associated with great problems. The fact is that silicon, which accounts for more than a quarter of the mass of the earth's crust, is not suitable for the production of solar cells. For these purposes, only the purest material obtained by an industrial method is suitable. Unfortunately, getting the purest silicon from sand is extremely problematic.

At a price this resource is comparable to uranium used at nuclear power plants. That is why the cost of solar panels is currently at a fairly high level.

Modern technologies

The first attempts to tame solar energy appeared long ago. Since then, many scientists are actively engaged in the search for the most effective equipment. It should not only be economical, but also compact. Its efficiency should strive for maximum.

The first steps to an ideal device for obtaining and converting solar energy were made with the invention of silicon batteries. Of course, the price is quite high, but the panels can be placed on the roofs and walls of houses, where they will not interfere with anyone. And the efficiency of such batteries is undeniable.

But the best way to increase the popularity of solar energy is to make it cheaper. German scientists have already proposed replacing silicon with synthetic fibers that can be integrated into fabric or other materials. The efficiency of such a solar battery is not very high. But the shirt with the impregnation of synthetic fibers can, at least, provide electricity to a smartphone or player. Work is actively carried out in the field of nanotechnology. Probably, they will allow the sun to become the most popular source of energy already in this century. Scates AS specialists from Norway have already stated that nanotechnology will allow to reduce the cost of solar panels by 2 times.

Solar energy for home

Many people are surely dreaming about housing that itself will provide for itself: there is no dependence on centralized heating, difficulties with paying bills and harming the environment. Already in many countries housing is actively being built, consuming only energy received from alternative sources. A vivid example is the so-called solar house.

In the process of construction, it will require more investment than the traditional one. But after a few years of operation, all costs will pay off - you do not have to pay for heating, hot water and electricity. In a solar house, all these communications are tied to special photovoltaic panels placed on the roof. And the energy resources received in this way are not only spent for current needs, but also accumulate for use at night and under cloudy weather.

Currently, the construction of such houses is not only in countries close to the equator, where it is the easiest way to obtain solar energy. They are also being built in Canada, Finland and Sweden.

Advantages and disadvantages

The development of technologies that make it possible to use solar energy everywhere could be more active. But there are certain reasons why this is still not a priority. As we have already said, the production of panels produces harmful substances for the environment. In addition, the finished equipment contains gallium, arsenic, cadmium and lead in its composition.

A lot of questions are caused by the need to recycle photovoltaic panels. After 50 years of work, they will become unsuitable for service, and they will have to be destroyed in some way. Will this not do great harm to nature? It should also be taken into account that solar energy is a non-permanent resource, the effectiveness of which depends on the time of day and weather. And this is a significant drawback.

But there are pluses, of course. Solar energy can be extracted almost anywhere in the world, and the equipment for receiving and converting it can be so small that it fits on the back of the smartphone. What is more important, this renewable resource, that is, the amount of solar energy will remain unchanged for at least a thousand more years.

Prospects

The development of technologies in the field of solar energy should lead to lower costs for the creation of elements. Already, there are glass panels that can be installed on the windows. The development of nanotechnology allowed inventing a paint that will be sprayed onto solar panels and can replace the silicon layer. If the cost of solar energy really decreases several times, its popularity will also grow many times.

The creation of small panels for individual applications will allow people in any conditions to use solar energy - at home, in the car or even outside the city. Due to their distribution, the load on centralized power grids will decrease, as people can independently charge small electronics.

Shell specialists believe that by 2040, about half of the world's energy will be generated from renewable resources. Already in Germany, the consumption of solar energy is growing rapidly, and the battery capacity is more than 35 Gigawatts. Japan is also actively developing this industry. These two countries are the leaders of solar energy consumption in the world. Probably, the United States will join them soon.

Other alternative energy sources

Scientists do not cease to puzzle over what else you can use to get electricity or heat. Let's give examples of the most promising alternative energy sources.

Windmills can now be found in almost any country. Even on the streets of many Russian cities, lanterns are installed, which themselves provide themselves with electricity due to wind power. Surely their prime cost is higher than average, but with time they will refund this difference.

It has long been invented a technology that allows to obtain energy using the difference in water temperatures on the surface of the ocean and at depth. China is actively going to develop this direction. In the coming years near the shores of the Celestial Empire are going to build the largest power plant working on this technology. There are other ways of using the sea. For example, in Australia they plan to create a power plant that generates energy from the strength of currents.

There are many other ways to get electricity or heat. But against the backdrop of many other options, solar energy is really a promising direction in the development of science.