W&T Wetenschap & Technologie
Een plek om te discussiëren over wetenschappelijke onderwerpen, wetenschappelijke problemen, technologische projecten en grootse uitvindingen.
Is er eigenlijk een reden dat mensen bij het vernieuwen van een dak de pannen niet helemaal weglaten en alleen maar zonnepanelen met een waterdichte onderlaag gebruiken? Pannen zijn ook erg duur. Als je het zo bekijkt valt een dak van zonnepanelen reuze mee.
Het gaat steeds harder zie ik 
I am a Chinese college students, I have a loving father, but I can not help him, he needs to do heart bypass surgery, I can not help him, because the cost of 100,000 or so needed, please help me, lifelong You pray Thank you!
Reken dat eens voor per m'2?quote:Op donderdag 26 april 2012 13:47 schreef CafeRoker het volgende:
Is er eigenlijk een reden dat mensen bij het vernieuwen van een dak de pannen niet helemaal weglaten en alleen maar zonnepanelen met een waterdichte onderlaag gebruiken? Pannen zijn ook erg duur. Als je het zo bekijkt valt een dak van zonnepanelen reuze mee.
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Het ONZ / [KAMT] Kennis- en Adviescentrum Maanvis Topics , voor al je vragen over mijn topiques!
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ff gegoogled. Ik zie dat pannen inderdaad iets goedkoper zijn dan ik dacht.. maar het scheelt nog steeds een euro of 1000-1500. En daarnaast ziet het geheel een stuk strakker uit.
Folding light: Wrinkles and twists boost power from solar panels
Taking their cue from the humble leaf, researchers have used microscopic folds on the surface of photovoltaic material to significantly increase the power output of flexible, low-cost solar cells.
The team, led by scientists from Princeton University, reported online April 22 in the journal Nature Photonics that the folds resulted in a 47 percent increase in electricity generation. Yueh-Lin (Lynn) Loo, the principal investigator, said the finely calibrated folds on the surface of the panels channel light waves and increase the photovoltaic material's exposure to light.
"On a flat surface, the light either is absorbed or it bounces back," said Loo, a professor of chemical and biological engineering at Princeton. "By adding these curves, we create a kind of wave guide. And that leads to a greater chance of the light's being absorbed."
The research team's work involves photovoltaic systems made of relatively cheap plastic. Current solar panels are typically made of silicon, which is both more brittle and more expensive than plastics. So far, plastic panels have not been practical for widespread use because their energy production has been too low. But researchers have been working to increase that efficiency with the goal of creating a cheap, tough and flexible source of solar power.
If researchers can increase the plastic panels' efficiency, the material could produce power from an array of surfaces from inserts in window panels to overlays on exterior walls or backpacks.
"It is flexible, bendable, light weight and low cost," Loo said.
In most cases, researchers have focused on increasing the efficiency of the plastic photovoltaic material itself. Recent developments have been promising: a team from UCLA recently announced a system with a 10.6 percent efficiency. That approaches the 10 to 15 percent level seen as the target for commercial development.
Loo said the folding method promises to increase those numbers. Because the technique works with most types of plastic photovoltaic materials, it should provide a boost to efficiency across the board.
"This is a very simple process that you can use with any material," she said. "We have tested it with other polymers and it works as well."
Jong Bok Kim, a postdoctoral researcher in chemical and biological engineering and the paper's lead author, explained in the Nature Photonics paper that the folds on the surface of the panels channel light waves through the material in much the same way that canals guide water through farmland. By curving the light through the material, the researchers essentially trap the light inside the photovoltaic material for a longer time, which leads to greater absorption of light and generation of energy.
"I expected that it would increase the photocurrent because the folded surface is quite similar to the morphology of leaves, a natural system with high light harvesting efficiency," said Kim, a postdoctoral researcher in chemical and biological engineering. "However, when I actually constructed solar cells on top of the folded surface, its effect was better than my expectations."
Although the technique results in an overall increase in efficiency, the results were particularly significant at the red side of the light spectrum, which has the longest wavelengths of visible light. The efficiency of conventional solar panels drops off radically as light's wavelength increases, and almost no light is absorbed as the spectrum approaches the infrared. But the folding technique increased absorption at this end of the spectrum by roughly 600 percent, the researchers found.
"If you look at the solar spectrum, there is a lot of sunlight out there that we are wasting," Loo said. "This is a way to increase efficiency."
The research team created the folded surface in Howard Stone's laboratory in the mechanical and aerospace engineering department by carefully curing a layer of liquid photographic adhesive with ultraviolet light. By controlling how fast different sections of the adhesive cured, the team was able to introduce stresses in the material and generate ripples in the surface. The shallower ripples were classified as wrinkles and the deeper ones are called folds. The team found that a surface containing a combination of wrinkles and folds produced the best results.
Although the math underlying the process is complex, the actual production is straightforward. Loo said it would be quite practical for industrial purposes.
"Everything hinges on the fact that you can reproduce the wrinkles and folds," Loo said. "By controlling the stresses, we can introduce more or fewer wrinkles and folds."
Another benefit of the process is that it increases the durability of the solar panels by relieving mechanical stresses from bending. The researchers found the panels with folded surfaces were able to retain their effectiveness after bending. A standard plastic panel's energy production would be diminished by 70 percent after undergoing bending.
Loo said the researchers drew their inspiration from leaves. Seemingly a simple object, the leaf is a miracle of natural engineering. Its green surface is perfectly constructed to bend and control light to ensure that a maximum amount of solar energy is absorbed to create energy and nutrients for the tree. Recent work by Pilnam Kim, a postdoctoral researcher in Stone's lab, provided insight into how these microscopic structures could be applied to synthetic devices.
"If you look at leaves very closely, they are not smooth, they have these sorts of structures," said Loo, who is deputy director of Princeton's Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment. "We'd like to mimic this geometric effect in synthetic, man-made light-harvesting systems."
http://www.zeitnews.org/e(...)om-solar-panels.html
Taking their cue from the humble leaf, researchers have used microscopic folds on the surface of photovoltaic material to significantly increase the power output of flexible, low-cost solar cells.
The team, led by scientists from Princeton University, reported online April 22 in the journal Nature Photonics that the folds resulted in a 47 percent increase in electricity generation. Yueh-Lin (Lynn) Loo, the principal investigator, said the finely calibrated folds on the surface of the panels channel light waves and increase the photovoltaic material's exposure to light.
"On a flat surface, the light either is absorbed or it bounces back," said Loo, a professor of chemical and biological engineering at Princeton. "By adding these curves, we create a kind of wave guide. And that leads to a greater chance of the light's being absorbed."
The research team's work involves photovoltaic systems made of relatively cheap plastic. Current solar panels are typically made of silicon, which is both more brittle and more expensive than plastics. So far, plastic panels have not been practical for widespread use because their energy production has been too low. But researchers have been working to increase that efficiency with the goal of creating a cheap, tough and flexible source of solar power.
If researchers can increase the plastic panels' efficiency, the material could produce power from an array of surfaces from inserts in window panels to overlays on exterior walls or backpacks.
"It is flexible, bendable, light weight and low cost," Loo said.
In most cases, researchers have focused on increasing the efficiency of the plastic photovoltaic material itself. Recent developments have been promising: a team from UCLA recently announced a system with a 10.6 percent efficiency. That approaches the 10 to 15 percent level seen as the target for commercial development.
Loo said the folding method promises to increase those numbers. Because the technique works with most types of plastic photovoltaic materials, it should provide a boost to efficiency across the board.
"This is a very simple process that you can use with any material," she said. "We have tested it with other polymers and it works as well."
Jong Bok Kim, a postdoctoral researcher in chemical and biological engineering and the paper's lead author, explained in the Nature Photonics paper that the folds on the surface of the panels channel light waves through the material in much the same way that canals guide water through farmland. By curving the light through the material, the researchers essentially trap the light inside the photovoltaic material for a longer time, which leads to greater absorption of light and generation of energy.
"I expected that it would increase the photocurrent because the folded surface is quite similar to the morphology of leaves, a natural system with high light harvesting efficiency," said Kim, a postdoctoral researcher in chemical and biological engineering. "However, when I actually constructed solar cells on top of the folded surface, its effect was better than my expectations."
Although the technique results in an overall increase in efficiency, the results were particularly significant at the red side of the light spectrum, which has the longest wavelengths of visible light. The efficiency of conventional solar panels drops off radically as light's wavelength increases, and almost no light is absorbed as the spectrum approaches the infrared. But the folding technique increased absorption at this end of the spectrum by roughly 600 percent, the researchers found.
"If you look at the solar spectrum, there is a lot of sunlight out there that we are wasting," Loo said. "This is a way to increase efficiency."
The research team created the folded surface in Howard Stone's laboratory in the mechanical and aerospace engineering department by carefully curing a layer of liquid photographic adhesive with ultraviolet light. By controlling how fast different sections of the adhesive cured, the team was able to introduce stresses in the material and generate ripples in the surface. The shallower ripples were classified as wrinkles and the deeper ones are called folds. The team found that a surface containing a combination of wrinkles and folds produced the best results.
Although the math underlying the process is complex, the actual production is straightforward. Loo said it would be quite practical for industrial purposes.
"Everything hinges on the fact that you can reproduce the wrinkles and folds," Loo said. "By controlling the stresses, we can introduce more or fewer wrinkles and folds."
Another benefit of the process is that it increases the durability of the solar panels by relieving mechanical stresses from bending. The researchers found the panels with folded surfaces were able to retain their effectiveness after bending. A standard plastic panel's energy production would be diminished by 70 percent after undergoing bending.
Loo said the researchers drew their inspiration from leaves. Seemingly a simple object, the leaf is a miracle of natural engineering. Its green surface is perfectly constructed to bend and control light to ensure that a maximum amount of solar energy is absorbed to create energy and nutrients for the tree. Recent work by Pilnam Kim, a postdoctoral researcher in Stone's lab, provided insight into how these microscopic structures could be applied to synthetic devices.
"If you look at leaves very closely, they are not smooth, they have these sorts of structures," said Loo, who is deputy director of Princeton's Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment. "We'd like to mimic this geometric effect in synthetic, man-made light-harvesting systems."
http://www.zeitnews.org/e(...)om-solar-panels.html
"An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people."
Sharp Hits Solar Cell Efficiency Record of 43.5%
With all of the different types of solar cells being developed from thin-film to crystalline silicon as well as new ways of boosting light absorption it seems there is always a new solar cell efficiency record being announced, but this new record from Sharp of 43.5% is a pretty big deal. A large jump over the company's previous record of 36.9% efficiency in November 2011, it shows that solar technology is getting ever closer to that 50% mark that could revolutionize the industry.
Sharp achieved the conversion efficiency record with their concentrator triple-junction compound solar cell that uses a lens-based system to focus sunlight on the cells to generate electricity.
According to Sharp:
Compound solar cells utilize photo-absorption layers made from compounds consisting of two or more elements, such as indium and gallium. The basic structure of this latest triple-junction compound solar cell uses Sharp’s proprietary technology that enables efficient stacking of the three photo-absorption layers, with InGaAs (indium gallium arsenide) as the bottom layer.
To achieve this latest increase in conversion efficiency, Sharp capitalized on the ability of this cell to efficiently convert sunlight collected via three photo-absorption layers into electricity. Sharp also optimized the spacing between electrodes on the surface of the concentrator cell and minimized the cell’s electrical resistance.
Conventional solar panels that are on the market now still have an efficiency of only about 15 to 20 percent, but these breakthroughs made in labs will eventually lead to climbing efficiencies in mass market solar panels too. Sharp's compound solar cell technology is currently only used in space satellites, but the company wants to adapt the technology into small-surface-area solar cells that would be practical for use down here on the ground.
The conversion efficiency record was confirmed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy in April 2012 and it is the same exact conversion efficiency achieved by Solar Junction of the United States in March 2011. The fact that two companies have been able to achieve the same high efficiency is a good sign that the industry is quickly scaling up efficiency across the board.
http://www.zeitnews.org/e(...)y-record-of-435.html
With all of the different types of solar cells being developed from thin-film to crystalline silicon as well as new ways of boosting light absorption it seems there is always a new solar cell efficiency record being announced, but this new record from Sharp of 43.5% is a pretty big deal. A large jump over the company's previous record of 36.9% efficiency in November 2011, it shows that solar technology is getting ever closer to that 50% mark that could revolutionize the industry.
Sharp achieved the conversion efficiency record with their concentrator triple-junction compound solar cell that uses a lens-based system to focus sunlight on the cells to generate electricity.
According to Sharp:
Compound solar cells utilize photo-absorption layers made from compounds consisting of two or more elements, such as indium and gallium. The basic structure of this latest triple-junction compound solar cell uses Sharp’s proprietary technology that enables efficient stacking of the three photo-absorption layers, with InGaAs (indium gallium arsenide) as the bottom layer.
To achieve this latest increase in conversion efficiency, Sharp capitalized on the ability of this cell to efficiently convert sunlight collected via three photo-absorption layers into electricity. Sharp also optimized the spacing between electrodes on the surface of the concentrator cell and minimized the cell’s electrical resistance.
Conventional solar panels that are on the market now still have an efficiency of only about 15 to 20 percent, but these breakthroughs made in labs will eventually lead to climbing efficiencies in mass market solar panels too. Sharp's compound solar cell technology is currently only used in space satellites, but the company wants to adapt the technology into small-surface-area solar cells that would be practical for use down here on the ground.
The conversion efficiency record was confirmed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy in April 2012 and it is the same exact conversion efficiency achieved by Solar Junction of the United States in March 2011. The fact that two companies have been able to achieve the same high efficiency is a good sign that the industry is quickly scaling up efficiency across the board.
http://www.zeitnews.org/e(...)y-record-of-435.html
"An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people."
http://blog.alexanderhigg(...)rgy-industry-142561/
The global energy industry faces complete upheaval by new nanotechnology solar cells that produce electricity at half the cost of fossil fuel.
Using groundbreaking nanotechnology advancements scientists from the University of Stanford announced in a research paper they have created next generation of solar cells which can be manufactured for 50% to 75% less than current solar cells.
The breakthrough promises to make solar energy the most affordable method to produce electricity with the potential to produce electricity at $0.05 per kilowatt-hour which half the $0.10 per kilowatt-hour cost required using fossil fuels or nuclear fuel.
The scientists say the next generation solar cells, which produce a short-circuit current density only 17% lower than the world record for monocrystalline cells, are fabricated using a highly efficient process to etch an array of nanocones into a nanoscopic layer of silicon.
The texture created by the array of nanocones create an anti-reflective material capable of absorbing nearly 100% of sunlight across the entire spectrum of visible light.
This nanoscopic material eliminates the need for the thick layers of silicon required in current solar cells to absorb ample amounts of sunlight and accounts for 32% of a their cost.
The thick layers of silicon in current cells also requires temperatures of between 1000°C and 1200°C to fabricate which represents an additional 26% of current fabrication costs.
The new nanocone solar cells invented by the Stanford scientists required less than 1/10th of amount of energy to produce using and can be fabricated at a temperature of just 120°C.
The new cells also eliminate the need for several layers of anti-reflective coatings required in current solar cells.
Nano Cone Solar Panels To Revolutionize Energy Industry
Nano Cone Solar Panels To Revolutionize Energy Industry
Solar power plants in Germany are now producing a world record 22 gigawatts of electricity per hour during midday hours, an amount equivalent to 20 nuclear power stations at full capacity and 50% of Germany’s energy needs.
Germany produces solar electricity at a cost of $0.20 cents per kilowatt-hour.
The United States generates fossil and nuclear generated electricity at a cost of $0.10 cents per kilowatt-hour.
To be able to compete with fossil fuels and to become an economically viable option the cost of solar cells needs to be cut in half.
With solar panels currently priced at a cost of about $1 per watt and the Standford scientists’ breakthrough promising to cut that cost by 50 to 75%.
If the solar panels make it into commercial production we will soon see panels being sold for the revolutionary price of $0.25 to $.50 per watt which corresponding to producing electricity at rates of $0.05 to $0.10 cent per kilowatt-hour.
At the high-end rate of $0.10 cents per kilowatt-hour solar panels will for the first time ever become an economically viable alternative to fossil and nuclear fuel based electricity generation.
At the low-end of the range of $0.05 cents per kilowatt-hour solar electricity generation threatens to force fossil and nuclear fuel power plants out of business.
How They Did It
Modern solar panels use silicon surfaces that are flat or planar which has several drawbacks that decrease the ability to produce electricity.
The flat surface reflects much of the sunlight hitting the cell resulting in only 40% to 50% of sunlight to be absorbed by the cell.
Traditionally scientists have coated the flat planar cells with layers of anti-reflective material to increase the absorption rate to between 85% to 95%.
However that adds additional manufacturing expense and results in blocking some sunlight from hitting the panel.
Additionally, the even with the anti-reflective coating, the highest level of light absorbed is at medium wavelengths with absorption rates of short and long wavelengths of dropping off significantly.
To over come the problem scientists experimented with several known methods of creating a nano textures which past research showed could absorb more light than flat planar surfaces.
The scientists used complex computer modeling algorithms to run various simulations to find the ideal nano texture to maximize the absorption of sunlight.
They then tested the simulated results on actual surfaces and eventually found the ideal shape and size that resulting in the scattering of wavelengths light across the entire visible spectrum in a manner that allowed for nearly 100% of the light to be absorbed without the need for anti-reflective coatings.
The global energy industry faces complete upheaval by new nanotechnology solar cells that produce electricity at half the cost of fossil fuel.
Using groundbreaking nanotechnology advancements scientists from the University of Stanford announced in a research paper they have created next generation of solar cells which can be manufactured for 50% to 75% less than current solar cells.
The breakthrough promises to make solar energy the most affordable method to produce electricity with the potential to produce electricity at $0.05 per kilowatt-hour which half the $0.10 per kilowatt-hour cost required using fossil fuels or nuclear fuel.
The scientists say the next generation solar cells, which produce a short-circuit current density only 17% lower than the world record for monocrystalline cells, are fabricated using a highly efficient process to etch an array of nanocones into a nanoscopic layer of silicon.
The texture created by the array of nanocones create an anti-reflective material capable of absorbing nearly 100% of sunlight across the entire spectrum of visible light.
This nanoscopic material eliminates the need for the thick layers of silicon required in current solar cells to absorb ample amounts of sunlight and accounts for 32% of a their cost.
The thick layers of silicon in current cells also requires temperatures of between 1000°C and 1200°C to fabricate which represents an additional 26% of current fabrication costs.
The new nanocone solar cells invented by the Stanford scientists required less than 1/10th of amount of energy to produce using and can be fabricated at a temperature of just 120°C.
The new cells also eliminate the need for several layers of anti-reflective coatings required in current solar cells.
Nano Cone Solar Panels To Revolutionize Energy Industry
Nano Cone Solar Panels To Revolutionize Energy Industry
Solar power plants in Germany are now producing a world record 22 gigawatts of electricity per hour during midday hours, an amount equivalent to 20 nuclear power stations at full capacity and 50% of Germany’s energy needs.
Germany produces solar electricity at a cost of $0.20 cents per kilowatt-hour.
The United States generates fossil and nuclear generated electricity at a cost of $0.10 cents per kilowatt-hour.
To be able to compete with fossil fuels and to become an economically viable option the cost of solar cells needs to be cut in half.
With solar panels currently priced at a cost of about $1 per watt and the Standford scientists’ breakthrough promising to cut that cost by 50 to 75%.
If the solar panels make it into commercial production we will soon see panels being sold for the revolutionary price of $0.25 to $.50 per watt which corresponding to producing electricity at rates of $0.05 to $0.10 cent per kilowatt-hour.
At the high-end rate of $0.10 cents per kilowatt-hour solar panels will for the first time ever become an economically viable alternative to fossil and nuclear fuel based electricity generation.
At the low-end of the range of $0.05 cents per kilowatt-hour solar electricity generation threatens to force fossil and nuclear fuel power plants out of business.
How They Did It
Modern solar panels use silicon surfaces that are flat or planar which has several drawbacks that decrease the ability to produce electricity.
The flat surface reflects much of the sunlight hitting the cell resulting in only 40% to 50% of sunlight to be absorbed by the cell.
Traditionally scientists have coated the flat planar cells with layers of anti-reflective material to increase the absorption rate to between 85% to 95%.
However that adds additional manufacturing expense and results in blocking some sunlight from hitting the panel.
Additionally, the even with the anti-reflective coating, the highest level of light absorbed is at medium wavelengths with absorption rates of short and long wavelengths of dropping off significantly.
To over come the problem scientists experimented with several known methods of creating a nano textures which past research showed could absorb more light than flat planar surfaces.
The scientists used complex computer modeling algorithms to run various simulations to find the ideal nano texture to maximize the absorption of sunlight.
They then tested the simulated results on actual surfaces and eventually found the ideal shape and size that resulting in the scattering of wavelengths light across the entire visible spectrum in a manner that allowed for nearly 100% of the light to be absorbed without the need for anti-reflective coatings.
Als dit allemaal waar is, dan wordt de zonntax onvermijdelijk 
(hoe kan "onze" overheid anders nog iets verdienen aan energie?)
(hoe kan "onze" overheid anders nog iets verdienen aan energie?)
Exaudi orationem meam
Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine.
Et lux perpetua luceat eis.
Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine.
Et lux perpetua luceat eis.
Duurt nog wel ff. Lens based systemen moeten gekoeld worden. IBM had ook al zoiets. Het is mooi maar nog niet af.quote:
Als dit allemaal waar is, dan wordt de zonntax onvermijdelijk
(hoe kan "onze" overheid anders nog iets verdienen aan energie?)
Partijen die een zonnetax willen doorvoeren kunnen dit op geen enkele manier goedpraten en plegen eigenlijk politieke zelfmoord, althans, dat zou het moeten zijn. Helaas is het nederlandse volk erg lam en mak.quote:
Als dit allemaal waar is, dan wordt de zonntax onvermijdelijk
(hoe kan "onze" overheid anders nog iets verdienen aan energie?)
Lens based? Ik zie het woord lens niet in dat artikel. :-Oquote:Op zondag 10 juni 2012 20:02 schreef MaGNeT het volgende:
[..]
Duurt nog wel ff. Lens based systemen moeten gekoeld worden. IBM had ook al zoiets. Het is mooi maar nog niet af.
Ah, er zijn 3 artikelen, de 2e heeft het daar over.quote:
[..]
Lens based? Ik zie het woord lens niet in dat artikel. :-O
Was mobiel dus overzag het even niet
German researchers developing higher-efficiency organic solar cells
The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, through its Light Technology Institute, this month will initiate new research on printable organic solar cells. The four-year project aims at increasing the efficiency of such cells to more than 10 percent. These promising, cheaper solar cells can be manufactured using existing techniques such as screen printing and continuous roll-to-roll processes. So far, however, low efficiency rates have stood between these cells and the market.
The methodology the KIT researchers are going to use is based on a tandem architecture, which involves combining multiple solar cells that offer complementary levels of light absorption. They stack two solar cells directly on top of each other and together they can harvest more sunlight and, consequently, achieve better efficiency rates.
Organic solar cells are also known as plastic solar cells. They are light, flexible, semi-transparent, more environmentally-friendly than other types of cells, and offer a quicker return on investment. Such characteristics open up possibilities for exciting new applications, especially in architecture, where the cells could be integrated into the design of buildings. Other areas offering potential for the technology include the manufacturing of automotive parts and consumer goods.
The research will also look into new materials, as well as ways to improve the cells’ stability. All testing will be done in real-life contexts, including manufacturing processes, which will be done in an industry-compatible production environment in order to improve chances of commercially-applicable results.
KIT researchers are not the only ones working to improve organic solar cell efficiency, but if they achieve their desired goal, this type of solar cell could get closer to becoming competitive with standard, non-organic silicon models.
The research has been made possible with ¤4.25 million (US$5.32 million) in funding from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
http://www.zeitnews.org/e(...)nic-solar-cells.html
The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, through its Light Technology Institute, this month will initiate new research on printable organic solar cells. The four-year project aims at increasing the efficiency of such cells to more than 10 percent. These promising, cheaper solar cells can be manufactured using existing techniques such as screen printing and continuous roll-to-roll processes. So far, however, low efficiency rates have stood between these cells and the market.
The methodology the KIT researchers are going to use is based on a tandem architecture, which involves combining multiple solar cells that offer complementary levels of light absorption. They stack two solar cells directly on top of each other and together they can harvest more sunlight and, consequently, achieve better efficiency rates.
Organic solar cells are also known as plastic solar cells. They are light, flexible, semi-transparent, more environmentally-friendly than other types of cells, and offer a quicker return on investment. Such characteristics open up possibilities for exciting new applications, especially in architecture, where the cells could be integrated into the design of buildings. Other areas offering potential for the technology include the manufacturing of automotive parts and consumer goods.
The research will also look into new materials, as well as ways to improve the cells’ stability. All testing will be done in real-life contexts, including manufacturing processes, which will be done in an industry-compatible production environment in order to improve chances of commercially-applicable results.
KIT researchers are not the only ones working to improve organic solar cell efficiency, but if they achieve their desired goal, this type of solar cell could get closer to becoming competitive with standard, non-organic silicon models.
The research has been made possible with ¤4.25 million (US$5.32 million) in funding from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
http://www.zeitnews.org/e(...)nic-solar-cells.html
"An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people."
1 kanttekening: het materiaal waarmee die zonnepanelen geproduceerd worden, is toch zeldzaam. En erg milieuvervuilend om dat te opgraven en tot bruikbare stof om te vormen?
Straks zijn de grondstoffen voor zonnepanelen op, en olie is ook al op, en het schiet niet op voor het milieu wanneer die zonnepanelen geproduceerd worden.
Straks zijn de grondstoffen voor zonnepanelen op, en olie is ook al op, en het schiet niet op voor het milieu wanneer die zonnepanelen geproduceerd worden.
Er zijn steeds meer materialen die gebruikt kunnen worden. Vergeet niet dat we met nano-technologie de meesters over de materie aan het worden zijn. We kunnen zelf vanuit goedkope en veel aanwezige stoffen andere stoffen maken door op nano niveau deze stoffen te bewerken. Vroeger toen we nog geen nano-tech hadden, waren we afhankelijk van de stoffen die aanwezig waren op aarde en deze konden we dan aanpassen maar dan vaak met arbeidsintensieve en dure processen.quote:
1 kanttekening: het materiaal waarmee die zonnepanelen geproduceerd worden, is toch zeldzaam. En erg milieuvervuilend om dat te opgraven en tot bruikbare stof om te vormen?
Straks zijn de grondstoffen voor zonnepanelen op, en olie is ook al op, en het schiet niet op voor het milieu wanneer die zonnepanelen geproduceerd worden.
Nu hoeven we niet meer langs allerlei tussenstations om tot een eindproduct te komen, we bouwen dat product gewoon op nanoniveau
"An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people."
als we nanotech hebben dan is alles wat daarmee gebouwd wordt zo energie-efficiënt dat we ook met veel minder energie toe kunnen.
maareh welke stoffen heeft ie het over?
maareh welke stoffen heeft ie het over?
Trots lid van het 👿 Duivelse Viertal 👿
Een gedicht over Maanvis
Het ONZ / [KAMT] Kennis- en Adviescentrum Maanvis Topics , voor al je vragen over mijn topiques!
Een gedicht over Maanvis
Het ONZ / [KAMT] Kennis- en Adviescentrum Maanvis Topics , voor al je vragen over mijn topiques!
Ik denk dat hij silicon bedoelt.quote:
als we nanotech hebben dan is alles wat daarmee gebouwd wordt zo energie-efficiënt dat we ook met veel minder energie toe kunnen.
maareh welke stoffen heeft ie het over?
"An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people."
Of koolstof. Beide zeer veel voorkomende elementen.quote:
[..]
Ik denk dat hij silicon bedoelt.
bSolar’s Double-Sided Photovoltaic Cells Produce Up to 50% More Energy
Standard photovoltaic cells only harvest energy from a single surface – the side facing the sun. Israeli startup bSolar has found a way to improve upon this unidirectional design with a double-sided solar cell that is able to produce up to 50% more energy. The trick to bSolar’s bifacial design lies in the cells’ boron “back surface field”, which is used instead of opaque aluminum backing – this enables the potent monocrystalline silicon photovoltaic cells to capture light reflected by rooftops, clouds, the earth, and the atmosphere.
While dual-sided solar cells have been developed in the past, bSolar claims that their bifacial solar cells are more powerful, more efficient, and cheaper to produce. The company engineered monocrystalline silicon wafers to collect light from both sides of the solar cell and encased them with a boron “back surface field”, which increases the cells’ efficiency and durability. bSolar says that their design boosts electricity generation by 10-30% on flat surfaces, and by 30-50% on vertical installations such as fences and highway sound barriers.
So far response to bSolar‘s bifacial photovoltaics has been strong – solar panel manufacturers interested in the technology include Aleo Solar, Asola and Solar-Fabrik, and a new 730 KW project in Japan will use the cells.
http://www.zeitnews.org/e(...)-50-more-energy.html
Standard photovoltaic cells only harvest energy from a single surface – the side facing the sun. Israeli startup bSolar has found a way to improve upon this unidirectional design with a double-sided solar cell that is able to produce up to 50% more energy. The trick to bSolar’s bifacial design lies in the cells’ boron “back surface field”, which is used instead of opaque aluminum backing – this enables the potent monocrystalline silicon photovoltaic cells to capture light reflected by rooftops, clouds, the earth, and the atmosphere.
While dual-sided solar cells have been developed in the past, bSolar claims that their bifacial solar cells are more powerful, more efficient, and cheaper to produce. The company engineered monocrystalline silicon wafers to collect light from both sides of the solar cell and encased them with a boron “back surface field”, which increases the cells’ efficiency and durability. bSolar says that their design boosts electricity generation by 10-30% on flat surfaces, and by 30-50% on vertical installations such as fences and highway sound barriers.
So far response to bSolar‘s bifacial photovoltaics has been strong – solar panel manufacturers interested in the technology include Aleo Solar, Asola and Solar-Fabrik, and a new 730 KW project in Japan will use the cells.
http://www.zeitnews.org/e(...)-50-more-energy.html
"An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people."
New Solar Panel Designs Make Installation Cheaper
With solar panel prices falling more than 80 percent in the last few years, many solar companies are turning their attention to reducing the cost of installing them. Two leading solar companies, Solon Energy, based in Berlin, and Trina Solar, based in Changzhou, China, have announced new designs for mounting solar panels to roofs—the companies say these designs can reduce the installation time by more than half, greatly reducing labor costs. The new designs reduce or eliminate the tools and hardware needed to install solar panels, and standardize solar installations, which have largely been ad hoc, reducing the time needed to design them.
While solar panels themselves used to account for most of the cost of large solar installations on commercial rooftops, the modules now account for about 40 percent of the cost. The rest comes from things like the necessary hardware, power electronics, and labor—which alone accounts for about 30 percent of the total.
Mounting solar panels on the flat rooftops of commercial installations typically involves anchoring long metal racks to the roof to create a framework that will angle the panels toward the sun and hold them together. Installers bolt the panels to this frame, wire the panels together, and electrically ground the racks.
Trina's design gets rid of most of this metal framework. It starts with some simple changes to the solar panels themselves. Solar panels resemble framed pictures—they consist of solar cells sealed behind a piece of glass and held in place and protected by a metal frame. This frame is typically bolted to the metal rack framework that angles the panel toward the roof. Trina uses the frame of the solar panel itself to provide the framework. Special hardware locks into grooves cut into the frame, propping the panel at the correct angle without the need of any tools.
The company says this reduces installation time by two-thirds, and reduces the chance that stray bolts and screws might get caught under the framework and damage the roof. Savings in materials and labor costs can add up to a 10-cent-per-watt reduction in costs for solar power, a significant drop considering that solar panels now sell for less than $1 per watt.
While Trina modifies the solar panel's metal frame, Solon eliminates it altogether. It takes an array of solar cells that have been sealed behind a layer of glass and then glues that to a plastic form that angles the cells toward the sun. This complete module is assembled in a factory, reducing the amount of work that needs to be done on site. Installers set the modules on the roof, link them together with plastic connectors (they also add some ballast), and plug wires together to establish electrical connections. Because the modules have no exposed metal, it isn't necessary to ground them, which helps reduce costs. Solon says the design reduces the time needed for mechanically mounting the panels by 75 percent, and the time needed for making the electrical connections by half. (Solon says that the impact on costs varies widely, depending on factors like labor costs.)
Both designs come with some trade-offs—for example, to achieve economies of scale, the systems provide only one standard angle for pointing the panels at the sun. At some latitudes, the panels would generate more power if they were tilted more or less than that angle.
http://www.zeitnews.org/e(...)llation-cheaper.html
With solar panel prices falling more than 80 percent in the last few years, many solar companies are turning their attention to reducing the cost of installing them. Two leading solar companies, Solon Energy, based in Berlin, and Trina Solar, based in Changzhou, China, have announced new designs for mounting solar panels to roofs—the companies say these designs can reduce the installation time by more than half, greatly reducing labor costs. The new designs reduce or eliminate the tools and hardware needed to install solar panels, and standardize solar installations, which have largely been ad hoc, reducing the time needed to design them.
While solar panels themselves used to account for most of the cost of large solar installations on commercial rooftops, the modules now account for about 40 percent of the cost. The rest comes from things like the necessary hardware, power electronics, and labor—which alone accounts for about 30 percent of the total.
Mounting solar panels on the flat rooftops of commercial installations typically involves anchoring long metal racks to the roof to create a framework that will angle the panels toward the sun and hold them together. Installers bolt the panels to this frame, wire the panels together, and electrically ground the racks.
Trina's design gets rid of most of this metal framework. It starts with some simple changes to the solar panels themselves. Solar panels resemble framed pictures—they consist of solar cells sealed behind a piece of glass and held in place and protected by a metal frame. This frame is typically bolted to the metal rack framework that angles the panel toward the roof. Trina uses the frame of the solar panel itself to provide the framework. Special hardware locks into grooves cut into the frame, propping the panel at the correct angle without the need of any tools.
The company says this reduces installation time by two-thirds, and reduces the chance that stray bolts and screws might get caught under the framework and damage the roof. Savings in materials and labor costs can add up to a 10-cent-per-watt reduction in costs for solar power, a significant drop considering that solar panels now sell for less than $1 per watt.
While Trina modifies the solar panel's metal frame, Solon eliminates it altogether. It takes an array of solar cells that have been sealed behind a layer of glass and then glues that to a plastic form that angles the cells toward the sun. This complete module is assembled in a factory, reducing the amount of work that needs to be done on site. Installers set the modules on the roof, link them together with plastic connectors (they also add some ballast), and plug wires together to establish electrical connections. Because the modules have no exposed metal, it isn't necessary to ground them, which helps reduce costs. Solon says the design reduces the time needed for mechanically mounting the panels by 75 percent, and the time needed for making the electrical connections by half. (Solon says that the impact on costs varies widely, depending on factors like labor costs.)
Both designs come with some trade-offs—for example, to achieve economies of scale, the systems provide only one standard angle for pointing the panels at the sun. At some latitudes, the panels would generate more power if they were tilted more or less than that angle.
http://www.zeitnews.org/e(...)llation-cheaper.html
"An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people."
Record Efficiency for Next-Generation Solar Cells
Researchers from the University of Toronto (U of T) and King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST) have made a breakthrough in the development of colloidal quantum dot (CQD) films, leading to the most efficient CQD solar cell ever. Their work is featured in a letter published in Nature Nanotechnology.
The researchers, led by U of T Engineering Professor Ted Sargent, created a solar cell out of inexpensive materials that was certified at a world-record 7.0% efficiency.
"Previously, quantum dot solar cells have been limited by the large internal surface areas of the nanoparticles in the film, which made extracting electricity difficult," said Dr. Susanna Thon, a lead co-author of the paper. "Our breakthrough was to use a combination of organic and inorganic chemistry to completely cover all of the exposed surfaces."
Quantum dots are semiconductors only a few nanometres in size and can be used to harvest electricity from the entire solar spectrum -- including both visible and invisible wavelengths. Unlike current slow and expensive semiconductor growth techniques, CQD films can be created quickly and at low cost, similar to paint or ink. This research paves the way for solar cells that can be fabricated on flexible substrates in the same way newspapers are rapidly printed in mass quantities.
The U of T cell represents a 37% increase in efficiency over the previous certified record. In order to improve efficiency, the researchers needed a way to both reduce the number of "traps" for electrons associated with poor surface quality while simultaneously ensuring their films were very dense to absorb as much light as possible. The solution was a so-called "hybrid passivation" scheme.
"By introducing small chlorine atoms immediately after synthesizing the dots, we're able to patch the previously unreachable nooks and crannies that lead to electron traps," explained doctoral student and lead co-author Alex Ip. "We follow that by using short organic linkers to bind quantum dots in the film closer together."
Work led by Professor Aram Amassian of KAUST showed that the organic ligand exchange was necessary to achieve the densest film.
"The KAUST group used state-of-the-art synchrotron methods with sub-nanometer resolution to discern the structure of the films and prove that the hybrid passivation method led to the densest films with the closest-packed nanoparticles," stated Professor Amassian.
The advance opens up many avenues for further research and improvement of device efficiencies, which could contribute to a bright future with reliable, low cost solar energy.
According to Professor Sargent, "Our world urgently needs innovative, cost-effective ways to convert the sun's abundant energy into usable electricity. This work shows that the abundant materials interfaces inside colloidal quantum dots can be mastered in a robust manner, proving that low cost and steadily-improving efficiencies can be combined."
http://www.zeitnews.org/a(...)neration-solar-cells
Researchers from the University of Toronto (U of T) and King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST) have made a breakthrough in the development of colloidal quantum dot (CQD) films, leading to the most efficient CQD solar cell ever. Their work is featured in a letter published in Nature Nanotechnology.
The researchers, led by U of T Engineering Professor Ted Sargent, created a solar cell out of inexpensive materials that was certified at a world-record 7.0% efficiency.
"Previously, quantum dot solar cells have been limited by the large internal surface areas of the nanoparticles in the film, which made extracting electricity difficult," said Dr. Susanna Thon, a lead co-author of the paper. "Our breakthrough was to use a combination of organic and inorganic chemistry to completely cover all of the exposed surfaces."
Quantum dots are semiconductors only a few nanometres in size and can be used to harvest electricity from the entire solar spectrum -- including both visible and invisible wavelengths. Unlike current slow and expensive semiconductor growth techniques, CQD films can be created quickly and at low cost, similar to paint or ink. This research paves the way for solar cells that can be fabricated on flexible substrates in the same way newspapers are rapidly printed in mass quantities.
The U of T cell represents a 37% increase in efficiency over the previous certified record. In order to improve efficiency, the researchers needed a way to both reduce the number of "traps" for electrons associated with poor surface quality while simultaneously ensuring their films were very dense to absorb as much light as possible. The solution was a so-called "hybrid passivation" scheme.
"By introducing small chlorine atoms immediately after synthesizing the dots, we're able to patch the previously unreachable nooks and crannies that lead to electron traps," explained doctoral student and lead co-author Alex Ip. "We follow that by using short organic linkers to bind quantum dots in the film closer together."
Work led by Professor Aram Amassian of KAUST showed that the organic ligand exchange was necessary to achieve the densest film.
"The KAUST group used state-of-the-art synchrotron methods with sub-nanometer resolution to discern the structure of the films and prove that the hybrid passivation method led to the densest films with the closest-packed nanoparticles," stated Professor Amassian.
The advance opens up many avenues for further research and improvement of device efficiencies, which could contribute to a bright future with reliable, low cost solar energy.
According to Professor Sargent, "Our world urgently needs innovative, cost-effective ways to convert the sun's abundant energy into usable electricity. This work shows that the abundant materials interfaces inside colloidal quantum dots can be mastered in a robust manner, proving that low cost and steadily-improving efficiencies can be combined."
http://www.zeitnews.org/a(...)neration-solar-cells
"An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people."
Deze techniek zou ook moeten werken bij andere typen zonnecellen zoals thin film solarcells die vaak goedkoper te fabriceren zijn maar een relatief laag rendament hebben. 2,5 x een rendament van 6 tot 8% levert toch een cell op die een respectabele 18 tot 24% kan halen.quote:Worlds first 3D solar cell is surprisingly efficient
Scanning electron microscope image of initial prototype of light trapping 3D photovoltaic structures on a thin silicon wafer.
Solar3D, Inc., the developer of a breakthrough 3-dimensional solar cell technology to maximize the conversion of sunlight into electricity, today announced the successful fabrication and operation of a working 3-dimensional silicon solar cell that produces at least 250% of the power of a basic silicon solar cell.
Dr. Changwan Son, Solar3D’s Director of Technology, commented, “When measured relative to a conventional solar cell design, our working prototype produces electricity beyond our previous expectations. First, we fabricated our working prototype. Then we created a simple cell based on the conventional design, using the same fabrication environment, to serve as a control sample. By measuring the side-by-side power output of both cells, we were able to determine the relative performance under a number of conditions, ranging from bright sunlight to lower, diffuse light. In each test, our 3D Solar Cell consistently outperformed the control cell and produced at least 2½ times the amount of electricity under the same conditions.”
“This is a game-changing result,” said Jim Nelson, CEO of Solar3D. “Two powerful characteristics of our 3D Solar Cell make it superior to current technology. First, it is substantially more efficient in producing power. Second, is our wide-angle light collection feature, which allows our 3D Solar Cell to collect light at all times of the day, month and year, an attribute unique in the solar world. Our computer simulation analysis indicated that the combination of these two features would produce double the power of a conventional solar cell. Based on the performance of our first working prototype, it appears that our 3D Solar Cell will exceed even that ambitious expectation. This device could be a giant leap forward, allowing solar power to achieve grid parity.”
Dr. Son continued, “Our mandate was to create a solar cell that would produce substantially more power than the current technology at a low enough cost of production to deliver a considerably lower cost per watt of solar electricity. We spent the first half of the year completing our fabrication process methodology. In July, we announced the fabrication and showed pictures of the first cell. Now, we have an actual working cell that produces substantially more power than the control samples, which fulfills part one of our two-part goal. Now, our near term objective is to continue to improve the fabrication process and the power output, as we optimize the cost of manufacturing. We believe that the result will be a 50% reduction in the cost of solar electricity. Perhaps the installed system cost savings will be even greater.”
Mr. Nelson concluded, “We are focused on bringing this breakthrough technology to market. Our next major step will be to produce a manufacturing prototype, which is required to undertake a pilot production run in early 2013. The pilot run will prove the 3D Cell’s performance characteristics in a production environment and lead us to a manufacturing partner and entry into the marketplace by the end of 2013.”
Geld maakt meer kapot dan je lief is.
Het zijn sterke ruggen die vrijheid en weelde kunnen dragen
Het zijn sterke ruggen die vrijheid en weelde kunnen dragen
Ray Kurzweil gaat gelijk krijgen met zijn voorspellingen denk ikquote:
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Deze techniek zou ook moeten werken bij andere typen zonnecellen zoals thin film solarcells die vaak goedkoper te fabriceren zijn maar een relatief laag rendament hebben. 2,5 x een rendament van 6 tot 8% levert toch een cell op die een respectabele 18 tot 24% kan halen.
Met de exponentiele groei van het rendement van de zonnecellen, worden we straks ineens overspoeld met zonnepanelen. Net zoals met de mobiele telefoon en pc's destijds.
"An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people."
Hier nog wat leuke grafieken en diagrammen:
"An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people."
