Versatile Solar Panel - The Rising Star of Solar Cell Technology7889704
The flexible solar panel is the increasing star of solar cell technology. Manufactured based on thin film technology and promising easy handling and installation this technologies may have a bright future. These types 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 1 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 each flexible and tough. This type of manufacturing allows for higher feasible production rates when compared to other types of solar cell manufacturing.
The versatile solar panel manufacturing procedure is known as roll-to-roll and has the possible to reduce the price per kilowatt hour (kWh) of generating capacity when compared to regular rigid panels. The roll-to-roll manufacturing process while 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 cut from the spool of solar cells.
One of many advantages of a versatile solar panel is the selection of shapes and sizes that it can be produced in, allowing it to fit nearly anywhere. An additional advantage is light weight portability and simple to carry shapes. Because a versatile solar cell can be rolled up like a magazine or newspaper it presents a much more handy shape for storage and transport.
Common uses for a versatile 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 types of solar power cells come in a variety of sizes to suit different device requirements and portability requirements.
On a larger scale a versatile solar panel is utilized in arrays to produce electrical energy for homes and industrial buildings where their light weight creates less tension on roofing systems. Being flexible they can easily be rolled out on curved roofs or walls for simple installation. This feature is especially well suited for short-term installations exactly where simple setup and tear down is important such as outdoor events.
A flexible solar panel is inherently much less effective than a regular rigid panel. As a outcome more square inches or square feet of versatile panel area is required to produce the exact same amount of electricity as a rigid panel. This disadvantage is frequently offset by the need for lightweight and portable panels in particular applications.
Creating a flexible solar panel has served to revolutionize the business. Manufactures are creating full use of thin film technology to produce solar cells both quickly and cost-effectively. If they are in a position to improve the efficiencies of this kind of solar cell it will really turn out to be an all about competitor. Keep an eye out for next stage of thin film technologies that will permit you to spray apply solar cell material to nearly any surface.
