Versatile Solar Panel - The Rising Star of Solar Cell Technologies3396401
The flexible solar panel is the rising star of solar cell technologies. Manufactured based on thin film technology and promising simple handling and installation this technologies might 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 produced 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 flexible 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 kind of manufacturing allows for greater feasible production prices when compared to other types of solar cell manufacturing.
The versatile solar panel manufacturing process is known as roll-to-roll and has the potential to decrease 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 becoming rolled up onto a spool. Then the preferred size of panel can be rolled out and reduce from the spool of solar cells.
1 of many benefits of a versatile solar panel is the selection of shapes and sizes that it can be created in, permitting it to fit nearly anywhere. An additional advantage is light weight portability and simple to carry shapes. Since a flexible solar cell can be rolled up like a magazine or newspaper it presents a much more convenient shape for storage and transport.
Typical uses for a flexible solar panel are charging portable 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 whilst you are out hiking. These kinds of solar power cells come in a selection of sizes to suit different device requirements and portability requirements.
On a bigger scale a versatile solar panel is used in arrays to generate electrical energy for homes and commercial buildings exactly where their light weight creates much less stress on roofing systems. Being versatile they can effortlessly be rolled out on curved roofs or walls for simple installation. This function is especially nicely suited for temporary installations exactly where easy setup and tear down is essential such as outside events.
A versatile solar panel is inherently much less efficient than a standard rigid panel. As a result much more square inches or square feet of versatile panel area is needed to generate the same amount of electrical energy as a rigid panel. This disadvantage is frequently offset by the require for lightweight and transportable panels in specific applications.
Creating a versatile solar panel has served to revolutionize the business. Manufactures are creating full use of thin film technology to produce solar cells each rapidly and cost-effectively. If they are in a position to improve the efficiencies of this kind of solar cell it will really become an all about competitor. Maintain an eye out for subsequent stage of thin film technologies that will permit you to spray apply solar cell material to almost any surface.
