Fossil Fuels Heading For Extinction
The Truth About SOLAR ENERGY: A Credible Energy Source… Or An Overpriced Damb Squib?* As the world searches for alternative energies, solar power is looked upon as the most viable source. But can its power be harnessed effectively to provide the missing energy resources we so desperately need?
* At present solar energy is the dominant source of alternative energy. Even though it comes in a form we don’t readily associate with it: oil.
How come? Well, the first step of oil formation is the photosynthesis of sunlight by extremely small plankton like plants millions of years ago.
These days, we need a quicker way to convert sunlight into energy. There is more than enough energy in a day’s worth of sunlight to meet our planet’s needs for an entire year. The question is how to harness it in an efficient and cost effective manner. Currently, we are failing when it comes to both elements, but progress is being made.
The Facts On Solar Panels (And How They Convert The Sun’s Rays Into Energy)
1. The solar panel has always been the prime component of the solar industry, but it has one major flaw. It is incredibly inefficient.
2. Solar Panels traditionally convert only 6 to 10 percent of the energy hitting them in sunrays into usable energy.
3. Scientific advances have pushed this percentage conversion rate into the mid-teens, although recent technological enhancements offer the possibility of this number catapulting into the 40 to 60 percent conversion rates.
4. A 40-60% energy conversion rate would make solar panels commercially viable, because a smaller amount of panel is needed to produce vastly more energy.
Solar Dots: The Answer To Our Planet’s Energy Prayers?
Another area where solar energy is making great strides is in new products, including what are known as Solar dots.
The solar panel has its limits, but few ever thought beyond it. This is no longer the case, as various companies are pushing the scientific boundaries further and further, not least with the advent of solar dots.
Solar dots work by converting the energy in sunlight at a molecular level.
* The dots are actually quantum nano dots. Yes, nano. They work by forming a crystalline structure of certain materials.
* When sunlight hits them, they release multiple electrons. These electrons, of course, form an electrical current that can be harnessed for use.
* Since the dots are on such a small scale, they could literally be imbedded in just about any structure exposed to the sun.
* Solar dots are expected to be cheap and easy to make. The big, bulky solar panels will most likely become a thing of the past, consigned to the dustbin of history. With a high rate of efficiency and low cost, solar dots will make solar power a viable energy platform for our needs.
* So, when can we expect to see these dots on the market? No commercially viable product has been put together yet as there are hurdles to jump. The hurdles include: how to capture the currents being created, and how to deal with reliability of energy transfer. While the future is certainly bright, it will probably be a few years yet before solar energy is widely available at a cost even the poorest can afford.