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In the market place today there are three basic types of solar cells. Solar cells are more commonly referred to as photovoltaic modules. The three basic modules are single crystal silicon, polycrystalline silicon and thin film.

Single crystal silicon was first created by accident in Bell laboratories in 1954. An experiment using semiconductors had a silicone doped with impurities which showed a sensitivity to light that was greater than ever seen before with other materials.

The efficiency was only at 6% but it was promising. Eventually the efficiency would reach 33% but has leveled off since then without an increase. The major drawback was that each solar panel was just one crystal. If just part of it becomes damaged then the entire cell will not function properly and the costs are extremely high.

In 1981 polycrystalline silicon was developed. This was made out of the same material but poured out into a mold to form the final structure that was wafer thick. They were made square to make a more efficient use of space but upon cooling the crystalline structure would form random crystal boundaries which in turn slightly reduce the efficiency of energy conversion to about 20%. These could be easily placed in conjunction with other cells to form panels. This is the most common of all the solar cells in use today.

The last is thin film panels that are made of the same material as the polycrystalline cells but microscopically thin. These are more flexible than the polycrystalline panels and were finally put into production in 2007. The production costs are lower than polycrystalline cells but they have yet to attain the same efficiency. Of the different types of solar cells the thin layer film is the most promising for higher efficiency.

There is much research being done on improving solar cell efficiency and in how to reduce costs of production.  Refer to earlier articles here on way to go green below.

Check Out the Video of Solar Cells in Action:

DEMONSTRATING SOLAR CELLS

DEMONSTRATING SOLAR CELLS

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The use of residential solar panels will reduce your energy cost for years to come. The source of power you will be utilizing is abundant and free. Your only cost comes in harnessing it. There have been many evolutions of the solar panel for use in residential homes from the beginning with crystalline silicon solar cell to the thin-film, string-ribbon.

The crystalline silicon solar cell was the first and best know type. A standard panel has a transparent glass surface with an ethyl vinyl acetate encapsulant on a Tedlar rear surface all held with an aluminum frame to orderly arrange the atoms to turn sunlight to electricity for your energy together needs.

A more economical panel developed is the thin-film panel. The three technologies used here are amorphous silicon, cadmium telluride and copper indium gallium diselenide, all of which use less semiconductor material than the crystalline silicon panels. This has become a preferred panel because of its high efficiency and aesthetics appearance since this thin-film technology is built into the roofing shingles themselves.

There is a third type that is in wide spread usage that combines the best of both previously stated panel types. This is referred to as the string-ribbon technology.  The manufacturing process utilizes high temperature, molten process to produce an energy yield of twice that of conventional crystalline silicon solar cells.

When the decision to use solar power and what type of solar panels have been made, the decision of a photovoltaic system (PV) will have to be determined. For maximum absorption of the solar rays, the panels should face the sun at an optimal angle. The right PV will maximize the efficiency of your system. This system will also convert the direct current that is generated to the useful alternating current used by most applications in the average home and be the storage unit, or battery, during the evening hours or storm conditions.

If a battery system is not preferred, then a tie in to the local grid is an option. This way you can sell power to your local energy company during the peak hours of sunlight during the day and buy energy back during the evening hours. Depending on your power consumption, this balance will determine whether you pay a bill or receive reimbursement.