Way To Go Green dot org

Photovoltaics or PV is the area of research and technology that deals with solar cells as a source of energy by converting the sun’s rays into electricity. Every year since 2002, the production of PV cells has increased by 48%, which makes this form of energy the fastest growing in the world. By the end of 2007, 12400megawatts of energy was produced by solar power.

But what are PV’s and how do they work? The PV solar cell is composed of mostly silicon that absorbs the rays of the sun. These rays release an electron from the silicon. This freed electron must flow through an external circuit before returning to the solar cell, thus generating a current. Another fact is that the optimum operating temperature is 25C. The efficiency is decreased as temperature rises. This decrease is at a rate of 0.5% for every 1C rise in temperature.

A thin silicon cell four inches across will optimally produce one watt an hour. If you have a 50-cell panel this would produce enough energy to power a small black and white TV, a radio and 5 small florescent bulbs. The average cost is directly related to how many watts are to be produced. The average base rule is that the cost is $10 – $15 per installed watt.

Most manufactures give a thirty-year life span of their solar products. With a 10 to 20 year time span to recover your cost, this is definitely a long-term cost effective form of energy supply.

The future of solar energy is bright. Please pardon the pun but it is true.