Solar Photovoltaics (PV) is the technology related to the application of solar cells for energy by converting sun energy (sunlight, including sun ultra violet radiation) directly into electricity. Every hour the earth receives enough sunlight energy to meet world demand for a year. The technological advances in the last century have provided the world with the ability to generate electricity to harness the sun's energy.
History
In 1839, Nineteen-year-old Edmund Becquerel, a French experimental physicist, discovered the photovoltaic effect while experimenting with an electrolytic cell made up of two metal electrodes. Willoughby Smith discovered the photoconductivity of selenium in 1873. Albert Einstein was awarded the 1923 Nobel Prize in physics for his research on the photoelectric effect—a phenomenon central to the generation of electricity through solar cells. In 1953, Bell Laboratories scientists Gerald Pearson, Daryl Chapin and Calvin Fuller developed the first silicon solar cell capable of generating a measurable electric current. In 1956, solar photovoltaic (PV) cells were far from economically practical. . Electricity from solar cells ran about $300 per watt. (For comparison, current market rates for a watt of solar PV hover around $5.) 1957 to 1960 Hoffman Electronics produced 8% efficient cells and improved efficiency to 14%; today's efficiencies are around 18%. The “Space Race” of the 1950s and 60s gave modest opportunity for progress in solar, as satellites and crafts used solar paneling for electricity. It was not until October 17, 1973 that solar leapt to prominence in energy research. The Arab Oil Embargo demonstrated the degree to which the Western economy depended upon a cheap and reliable flow of oil. As oil prices nearly doubled over night, leaders became desperate to find a means of reducing this dependence. In addition to increasing automobile fuel economy standards and diversifying energy sources, the U.S. government invested heavily in the solar electric cell that Bell Laboratories had produced with such promise in 1953. However, huge PV market growth in Japan and Germany from the 1990s to the present has reenergized the solar industry. In 2002 Japan installed 25,000 solar rooftops. Such large PV orders are creating economies of scale, thus steadily lowering costs. The PV market is currently growing at a blistering 30 percent per year, with the promise of continually decreasing costs. Today's photovoltaic systems are used to generate electricity to pump water, light up the night, activate switches, charge batteries, supply power to the utility grid, and much more.
Thin film technology often use non-silicon semiconductor materials including copper, indium, gallium and selenium (CIGS) or amorphous silicon to create photovoltaic cells that convert sunlight into electricity. Without the expensive and often sparse silicon, the cells are cheaper in terms of materials costs. The non-silicon materials can also be printed on flexible or light substances, which can create new applications for solar. Thin film are not yet as efficient as silicon-based solar, and can remain pricey due to their high production costs.
Monocrystalline A single crystal, also called monocrystal, is a crystalline solid in which the crystal lattice of the entire sample is continuous and unbroken to the edges of the sample, with no grain boundaries.
Polycrystalline silicon is a material consisting of multiple small silicon crystals. Polycrystalline cells can be recognized by a visible grain, a “metal flake effect”.
Solar Energy - Fundamental Benefits:
• PV solar has a low-to-no environmental impact and is a proven source of clean renewable electricity.
• A solar/wind system is a silent, emissions-free and low-maintenance as it produces 99+% of expected energy.
• A solar/wind system is inter-connected to the utility grid thus ensuring augmented service which will not be interrupted as a result of the SEF operation.
• A Solar/wind allows building owners to capitalize on unused space (the roof) thereby making their real property more valuable.
Commercial Grid Tie:
Renewable Future Energy Resources Inc. solar power systems are designed to be installed on commercial and Residential buildings and connected to the electrical grid to supply a portion of the power required.
During the day, the grid tie system converts sunlight into electricity that is then fed into the building, offsetting the amount of power being drawn from the grid. This reduces the dependency on the electrical utility and lowers monthly power bills. Any excess power is also fed back to the power utility creating a power credit (this is known as net metering).
Solar thermal is the technology of harnessing energy from the light of the sun for thermal energy and is one of the least expensive forms of alternative energy. They are silent in operation and release very small levels of emissions.
The most common use for solar thermal technology is domestic water heating but is also common for commercial purposes such as:
multi-family homes
hotels
dairies / dairy cleaning
swimming pool heating and water parks
car washes
laundries and laundromats
restaurants and bakeries
hotels and motels
hospitals and clinics
meat packing plants and other industries that use a large volume of hot water
pastuerization facilities
health clubs and spas
campgrounds
Solar thermal is an excellent return on investment and pays for itself on fuel savings alone.
