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Solar energy Potentials & recent breakthrough |
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When we talk about Solar energy, many a times we forget or we don?t know how much is the potential benefit we can expect?.Most probably few statistics can help us in understanding the same (ref : http://scitation.aip.org/content/aip/magazine/physicstoday/article/60/3/10.1063/1.2718755): 1) The San Francisco earthquake of 1906, with magnitude 7.8, released an estimated 10 17 joules of energy, the amount the Sun delivers to Earth in one second. 2) Earth's ultimate recoverable resource of oil, estimated at 3 trillion barrels, contains 1.7 ?10 22 joules of energy, which the Sun supplies to Earth in 1.5 days. 3) The amount of energy humans use annually, about 4.6 ?10 20 joules, is delivered to Earth by the Sun in one hour. So, when we know the potential, the next question comes immediately is that : why we are not utilizing this clean energy to the fullest? The simple answer is economics!! Till date the cost of solar energy is higher than the conventional energies. So, research is ongoing to reduce the cost of solar power by enhancing the efficiency level of the solar cells since last couple of decades. Now a new breakthrough in the design of silicon-based solar cells have been reported by 3 companies during recent IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference in Denver. Panasonic, Sharp and SunPower have presented new models that surpassed previous efficiency benchmarks. The breakthroughs pave the way for solar power to compete commercially against fossil fuels. Panasonic?s new cell design achieves a conversion rate of 25.6% of the sun?s energy into electricity. Sharp?s and Sun Power?s designs also achieved efficiencies of greater than the previous record of 25%. With these path breaking designs, however, the new design prototypes, not yet ready for commercial production, as an environmentalist, I will be looking forward to the further development in this regard. (For further reading ref : http://inhabitat.com/groundbreaking-solar-cell-design-improvement-could-lead-to-cheaper-energy/) |
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10 Comments
Thank you for sharing, Unmesh!
Posted 29-11-2014 23:59
Solar energy is of course abundantly available. But it has proven to be expensive and inefficient compared to other energy resources.
But the scientist are working all the time in order to trap the light energy efficiently. Solar energy is not considered to be powerful, so people are working in order to trap the light with efficient solar panel.If that is done then, this energy will be inexpensive and efficient in the days to come.
Posted 14-10-2014 22:43
Thx a lot Christy...But, we need to see the real outcome of this news in the coming months/years, then only we can be really satisfied...
Posted 14-10-2014 19:16
Thx Rohan and Arushi for your feedbacks...we all know that till the technology is available with the affordable price tag, it can't be useful, so this may bring some positive focus on solar energy scenario around the globe
Posted 14-10-2014 19:15
Thx a lot Rahul & Afra for your valuable comments...
Posted 14-10-2014 19:13
Thank you for sharing such an amazing news Unmesh :) Well, I was always hesitant about solar-energy issue because there has been proufound paradox between the amount of solar energy produced vs used energy to produce solar cell. So, I am more than happy to hear the paradox has finally been solved. I hope the Real Sustainable Solar Power to become the new norm.
Posted 13-10-2014 20:18
Thanks for your insight into solar energy and it's feasibility . Agree with you that due to expensive solar panels and other systems involved to tap solar energy , solar power is not being fully used. Glad to know that big brands like Panasonic , sharp are doing research to get more economical models of Solar cells. All govts. should treat it as priority & invest funds and resources into research to get more feasible solar panels.
Posted 13-10-2014 15:17
I'm equally excited & eagerly waiting to read more in this regard. Solar energy is the prime source of energy for earth. We have not used this medium to its full potential.
Burning fossil fuels is unnatural, harmful to the environment, the source is limited & once its is finished it can not be regenerated next day.
To the contrary to the above solar energy is natural source, sustainable with the environment, Source is unlimited & is available every day without fail.
Thanks for the report, Unmesh.
Posted 13-10-2014 12:39
Solar energy is a renewable source of energy and it is quite eco-friendly too. Thank you for he statistics
Posted 13-10-2014 03:26
We must understand that SUN is the ultimate source of energy.
Thank you for the report @Unmesh.
The power of Sun is amazing. If we can increase the efficieny of solar cells, than it will become a lot easier to use the magnificient power of sun.
Posted 12-10-2014 22:16