Versatile Solar Panel - The Increasing Star of Solar Cell Technologies6111436
The versatile solar panel is the increasing star of solar cell technology. Manufactured primarily based on thin film technology and promising simple handling and installation this technologies 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 versatile substrate. The amorphous silicon is used to produce the solar cell and the thin stainless steel backing enables the panel to be both flexible and tough. This type of manufacturing allows for higher feasible production rates when compared to other kinds of solar cell manufacturing.
The versatile solar panel manufacturing procedure is called roll-to-roll and has the potential to decrease the cost per kilowatt hour (kWh) of producing capacity when compared to regular rigid panels. The roll-to-roll manufacturing procedure whilst 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 desired size of panel can be rolled out and reduce from the spool of solar cells.
1 of many advantages of a flexible solar panel is the selection of shapes and sizes that it can be created in, allowing it to match nearly 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 more convenient shape for storage and transport.
Typical 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 kinds of solar power cells come in a variety of sizes to suit various device specifications and portability needs.
On a bigger scale a versatile solar panel is used in arrays to generate electrical energy for houses and commercial buildings exactly where their light weight creates less stress on roofing systems. Being flexible they can easily be rolled out on curved roofs or walls for simple installation. This function is especially well suited for temporary installations where easy setup and tear down is important such as outside events.
A versatile solar panel is inherently much less efficient than a regular rigid panel. As a result more square inches or square feet of flexible panel area is needed 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 particular applications.
Creating a flexible solar panel has served to revolutionize the industry. Manufactures are creating complete use of thin film technologies to create solar cells each quickly and cost-successfully. If they are in a position to improve the efficiencies of this kind of solar cell it will truly turn out to be an all about competitor. Maintain an eye out for next stage of thin film technology that will allow you to spray apply solar cell material to nearly any surface.
