Solar Cells in Cars
With the dwindling energy sources, the global car industry is quickly addressing significant and usual concerns about energy consumption in vehicles.
It is a common knowledge that cars need energy to be able to move and facilitate mobility. Cars need fuel to run and electricity from batteries to start up the engine and provide energy for the function of other accessories like lights, airconditioner and car stereo.
But because crude supplies are diminishing and are constantly rising in prices, car manufacturers are doing efforts to develop solutions to such energy problems. Photovoltaic energy production or solar cells is the most promising avenue to resolve such a problem.
Carmakers started out energy saving measures by developing and introducing hybrid cars, which facilitate for lesser fuel consumption. Now, consumers and car assemblers are both excited about the integration of solar cells within car systems.
There are several car models now that have photovoltaic cells at the roof to facilitate collection of solar energy. The energy would then be converted into electrical forms to be used by the car to operate some parts and accessories.
Alternatives to Silicon in Photovoltaic Cells
The industry of solar cells is truly still at its young stage. It follows and it is very apparent that there is still a significant room for improvement. There is no need to justify and verify the validity and effectiveness of photovoltaic or solar cells in generating electricity. It has already been established. However, there is one area of concern.
Silicon mostly makes up the entire solar cells. That is because the element is the common solar energy absorbent that could facilitate the flow of photons and electrons as prompted by solar light and energy collection.
But now, because silicon is becoming a rare and expensive raw material and because of its limitations, industry players are rushing to replace the element with other materials without compromising the solar cells’ overall and general energy generation capacity.
Some feasible and already used alternatives or replacements to silicon include titanium oxide, which facilitates for photosynthesis-like solar power generation.
Titanium oxide also facilitates power generation even during rainy days because of its ability to collect even low-level sunlight. Now, cadmium telluride and copper indium diselenide is also in experimental stages.
These materials when used to replace silicon would make solar cells more affordable and easily installable at common households.
Primitive Means of Utilizing Solar Energy
Solar energy is the most promising renewable energy source being eyed by different energy producers all over the world. That is because there is always an abundant supply of sunlight in many parts of the world.
The sun is a good source of two energy forms, heat and light, which are important as factors in the production of overall energy consumed across the market.
Because the sun has always been there in the sky since civilizations started on the planet, it is just logical to infer that the first few forms of energy used by mankind are topped by solar energy.
In the past, ancient architects utilized solar energy by designing and creating windows that facilitate maximized use of the light and heat from the sun. Researches and historical diggings suggest that in the primitive Greece, Americas and China, the sun’s heat was used as a primary source of warmth in enclosed areas like homes.
Developed Countries Turn to Solar Cells
With the constantly rising costs of conventional energy and the environment-depleting turn outs of such energy sources, developed countries are quickly turning to make use of renewable energy sources.
Specifically, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, France, Spain, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and most countries in the European Union block are instituting legislations and subsidizing research efforts to accelerate energy shift to renewable sources.
Most developed countries take the challenge of shifting to renewable energy sources at the guise of eliminating or reducing environmental impact. But as analysts suggest, developed countries see the potential of renewable energy sources like solar energy.
New Israeli Technology for Solar Power Production
At the Negev desert in Israel is located the National Centre for Solar Energy, the site where a new promising technology in solar power generation has been developed.
Because Israel is typically a sunny nation, its scientists have established the development of new solar panel that magnifies the sunlight passing through.
The researchers claim that the new solar power development would significantly reduce the usual high cost associated with solar power generation.
The new panel has a simple reflector that is made up of several mirrors to intensify the sunlight collected. The light collected could intensify for over a thousand times. As a matter of fact, that intensified light could even burn up a person. It is that hot.
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Think Solar Energy
