Flexible Solar Panel - The Increasing Star of Solar Cell Technology1384135
The versatile solar panel is the increasing star of solar cell technologies. Manufactured primarily based on thin film technologies and promising simple handling and installation this technology may have a bright future. These types of panels are very light, can be rolled up for transport and lend themselves to installation on irregular surfaces such as automobiles.
A versatile solar panel is typically produced with a roll-to-roll manufacturing process that deposits thin-film amorphous silicon at a thickness of one micrometer on thin sheets of stainless steel or other flexible substrate. The amorphous silicon is utilized to produce the solar cell and the thin stainless steel backing allows the panel to be each flexible and tough. This type of manufacturing enables for higher feasible production prices when compared to other types of solar cell manufacturing.
The versatile solar panel manufacturing procedure is known as roll-to-roll and has the potential to reduce the cost per kilowatt hour (kWh) of producing capacity when compared to regular rigid panels. The roll-to-roll manufacturing process while much more involved can be pictured like sheets of newspaper coming off of the printing press and being rolled up onto a spool. Then the preferred size of panel can be rolled out and reduce from the spool of solar cells.
One of many benefits of a versatile solar panel is the selection of shapes and sizes that it can be produced in, allowing it to match almost anyplace. An additional benefit is light weight portability and easy to carry shapes. Since a flexible solar cell can be rolled up like a magazine or newspaper it presents a much more convenient shape for storage and transport.
Common uses for a flexible solar panel are charging transportable device batteries like laptops, cell phones and mp3 players. You can even roll a panel out on a sunny rock and use it to recharge your gps batteries while you are out hiking. These types of solar power cells come in a variety of sizes to suit different device requirements and portability requirements.
On a larger scale a flexible solar panel is utilized in arrays to produce electricity for houses and commercial buildings exactly where their light weight creates less tension on roofing systems. Becoming flexible they can effortlessly be rolled out on curved roofs or walls for easy installation. This function is especially well suited for short-term installations where easy setup and tear down is essential such as outdoor events.
A flexible solar panel is inherently much less efficient than a standard rigid panel. As a outcome more square inches or square feet of flexible panel region is required to generate the same quantity of electrical energy as a rigid panel. This disadvantage is often offset by the require for lightweight and transportable panels in specific applications.
Developing a versatile solar panel has served to revolutionize the industry. Manufactures are creating complete use of thin film technology to create solar cells both rapidly and price-successfully. If they are able to enhance the efficiencies of this type of solar cell it will truly become an all about competitor. Maintain an eye out for subsequent stage of thin film technologies that will permit you to spray apply solar cell material to almost any surface.
