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Solar Panels, new technologies

Discussion in 'Technical Discussion' started by brian eiland, Feb 27, 2014.

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  1. brian eiland, Feb 27, 2014
    #1
    brian eiland

    brian eiland Senior Member

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    St Augustine, Fl and Thailand
    Ceramic material for solar panels could make them cheaper, more efficient

    A unique solar panel design made with a new ceramic material points the way to potentially providing sustainable power cheaper, more efficiently, and requiring less manufacturing time. It also reaches a four-decade-old goal of discovering a bulk photovoltaic material that can harness energy from visible and infrared light, not just ultraviolet light.

    This affordable sun-powered future could be closer than we think thanks to early tests on this new material, which was developed by a team led by scientists at the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University. The tests were conducted, in part, at the Advanced Photon Source housed at the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory.

    The team created a new class of ceramic materials that has three main benefits. First, it can produce a solar panel that is thinner than today's silicon-based market leaders by using one material to do the work of two. Second, it uses cheaper materials than those used in today's high-end thin-film solar panels. Third, the material is ferroelectric, which means it can switch polarity, a key trait for exceeding the theorized energy-efficiency limits of today's solar cell material.

    ...more here:
    Designfax – Technology for OEM Design Engineers
  2. Norseman, Mar 4, 2014
    #2
    Norseman

    Norseman Senior Member

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    With 2 electric cars and an electric boat I am all for it, the more and the less expensive, the better.

    (Now if I just could figure out how to make my two gasoline emergency generators in the garage electric, life would be swell :D)
  3. K1W1, Mar 4, 2014
    #3
    K1W1

    K1W1 Senior Member

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    Hi,

    Move away from an FP & L area and you won't need them.
  4. Norseman, Mar 4, 2014
    #4
    Norseman

    Norseman Senior Member

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    Ha, not a bad advice.

    That being said, we have not had a bad hurricane in 8-9 years and if my luck holds, I will just start the emergency generators twice a year and do the occasional oil and fuel change. (No oil filters on them things. :confused:)

    Seriously considering a small solar array on my garage roof, perhaps 3KW:
    Good news on top of this thread about prices coming down with new technology.

    Happiness is letting the Sol cool my beer..;)
  5. Old Phart, Mar 4, 2014
    #5
    Old Phart

    Old Phart Senior Member

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    I dunno
    In the meantime, here's a little vid to stir the cobwebs - only 5 steps.

    FREE Hidden Electricity!
  6. Norseman, Mar 4, 2014
    #6
    Norseman

    Norseman Senior Member

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    Nah, that is Red-Neck stuff, steal electricity..

    I'd rather have God pay for it with his Big Sun.:p
  7. Old Phart, Mar 4, 2014
    #7
    Old Phart

    Old Phart Senior Member

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    I dunno
    Think.

    Who pays for the electricity to power the phone?

    Either you pay someone when you pay a bill or it's free - no theft here.