Flexible Solar Panel - The Rising Star of Solar Cell Technologies5962777
The versatile solar panel is the increasing star of solar cell technologies. Manufactured primarily based on thin film technologies and promising easy handling and installation this technology might have a bright future. These kinds 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 made 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 used to create the solar cell and the thin stainless steel backing enables the panel to be both flexible and tough. This kind of manufacturing allows for greater possible production prices when compared to other types of solar cell manufacturing.
The versatile solar panel manufacturing process is known as roll-to-roll and has the possible to reduce the cost per kilowatt hour (kWh) of generating capacity when compared to regular rigid panels. The roll-to-roll manufacturing procedure 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 cut from the spool of solar cells.
One of numerous advantages of a versatile solar panel is the variety of shapes and sizes that it can be created in, permitting it to match nearly anyplace. Another advantage is light weight portability and simple to carry shapes. Since a versatile 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 whilst you are out hiking. These kinds of solar energy 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 easily be rolled out on curved roofs or walls for simple installation. This feature is especially well suited for temporary installations where simple setup and tear down is important such as outdoor events.
A versatile solar panel is inherently less effective than a regular rigid panel. As a outcome much more square inches or square feet of flexible panel area is needed to generate the same amount of electricity as a rigid panel. This disadvantage is frequently offset by the require for lightweight and transportable panels in particular applications.
Creating a flexible solar panel has served to revolutionize the industry. Manufactures are making full use of thin film technologies to create solar cells each rapidly and price-effectively. If they are able to improve the efficiencies of this kind of solar cell it will truly become an all around competitor. Keep an eye out for next stage of thin film technologies that will permit you to spray apply solar cell material to almost any surface.
