Sunlight provides Earth with ample energy, enough to meet our global power needs multiple times. Furthermore, unlike fossil fuels, which release greenhouse gas emissions or run out, solar energy doesn’t contribute to pollution.
Adelaide solar technology converts sunlight to electricity and can be connected directly to the grid for homes and businesses. Let’s learn about all the various forms of solar power:
Photovoltaic (PV) cells
PV cells use photovoltaic (PV) cells to directly convert sunlight, the most abundant energy source on Earth, into electricity using a process that occurs naturally in certain materials known as semiconductors. Sunlight hits a solar cell and ionises it, freeing electrons from their atomic bonds to flow freely throughout the semiconductor to form an electrical current that powers electronic devices or sends electricity directly into the grid.
Silicon is the go-to semiconductor material for solar cells, with crystalline silicon being the most efficient type. Other semiconductor materials may also be used, including amorphous silicon, cadmium telluride and copper indium gallium selenide – though such cells are more affordable yet provide lower efficiency than c-Si solar cells.
Multiple solar cells cannot generate enough power for homes; to meet this demand, various PV cells are combined into solar panels and mounted on roofs. Each panel features a frame encasing it and protective glass shields to guard against weathering when wired together to form an energy supply for a home. PV systems do not contain moving parts, so they are quiet and reliable while needing only periodic visual inspections for maintenance.
Concentrated solar power (CSP)
Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) is a method for harnessing solar thermal energy that utilises mirrors to concentrate sunlight onto a heat receiver and convert it to electricity. Common forms of CSP technology include parabolic troughs, dish collectors, linear Fresnel reflectors and tower technology; among them, the most advanced power tower system that features tall towers equipped with multiple heat receivers and hundreds of flat mirrors that adjust themselves throughout the day to generate large amounts of electricity while operating at extreme temperatures.
One of the critical challenges associated with CSP projects is locating suitable land. It can be challenging as these systems require ample room to create their energy storage system that allows operation during periods of low sun. Furthermore, CSP plants must have access to an efficient high-voltage transmission grid – an often daunting challenge as many operate at full capacity today.
CSP can be combined with other renewable energy sources to improve electricity supply reliability while helping reduce carbon dioxide emissions by using direct air capture technology to capture CO2.
Solar furnaces
Solar furnaces were traditionally employed for heating chemical reactors, cutting fossil fuel costs while allowing researchers to study materials under high temperatures. But modern-day solar furnaces also effectively replace traditional firing methods on kilns and pottery ovens – helping reduce firewood needs while limiting deforestation.
Solar energy is an eco-friendly resource that produces no emissions whatsoever. Furthermore, its efficiency allows it to produce heat and electricity; using it instead of traditional sources like coal and oil helps eliminate their pollution impact while being an affordable solution that could ultimately save money in the long run.
Thin-film solar technology
Thin-film solar technology uses thin layers of photovoltaic material instead of the more common crystalline silicon used in traditional PV panels for an eco-friendly alternative with lower manufacturing costs and greater commercial application possibilities.
Thin film solar panels use thin film layers such as semiconductors that absorb sunlight, which is converted to electricity via a conductive oxide layer. The Adelaide solar semiconductors are usually deposited onto glass, polyamide, or aluminium substrates to improve conductivity and avoid light reflecting off them; furthermore, each conductive oxide layer comes coated with an anti-reflective coating for further efficiency.
Thin-film solar technologies such as amorphous silicon (a-Si), cadmium telluride (CdTe), and copper indium gallium diselenide (CIS) are some of the most popular options, offering reduced ecological impacts during all manufacturing stages, making them perfect candidates for commercial applications.