With natural resources such as oil and coal being used up at an astonishing rate, solar energy has to be a key element in our future energy supply. Solar energy is the most abundant resource we have of those we currently have the ability to harness. It is clean, has virtually no adverse effects on the environment and is a never ending energy source that can be easily harnessed.

The problem with solar panel systems is they are bulky and unattractive. New solar technology is making such criticisms a thing of the past.

Everyone agrees solar energy is clean, and is becoming a cost-effective energy source. The problem is solar panel systems are large and rather bulky. And even though solar panel designs have improved over the years they don’t add to the beauty of your home.

New solar technology involving shingles is getting a lot of attention. These new Photovoltaic shingles are a major design breakthrough. Especially for those of you who have distaste for the large solar panel systems. These shingles give you the physical appearance of a regular shingle roof and simply replace the regular shingles on your roof. They look like a regular roof and many people cannot tell the difference because they do not standout from the roof in the same way as panels. Though they only come in black. Obviously, this gives you a much more appealing look than the bulky designs of adding on panel systems.

The invention of a thin film photovoltaic cell was the technological breakthrough that made this new technology possible. It is known as “amorphous silicon thin alloy technology”. After the designers stepped back from the present solar panel designs and did some creative thinking they discovered that the materials used in panels were not the only ones that could be used. The solution was more efficient cells that could be built on a steel substrate. Each of these super thin cells was tailored to capture different spectrums of the sunlight. They were then layered on top of each other thus becoming extremely efficient at producing power.

These cells are more efficient than regular solar panel cells and far more normal and appealing from a visual perspective. So if your excuse for not using solar in the past was the bulky system, you need to check into this new solar technology.

Will this new technology become the breakthrough we have been waiting for in solar power? Well it already is proving to be significant if you consider the following.

1. Habitat for Humanity is using the system on many of the homes it builds.
2. Lockheed Martin is experimenting with the technology as a power source for high altitude flights.
3. The United States Army is building a solar powered community using it.
4. Museums in Beijing, China are converting to it.

This new solar technology represents a major breakthrough in the industry in the opinion of many experts. Solar energy represents one of the best solutions for decreasing our dependence on our non renewable resources such as oil and natural gas. And with energy prices on our non renewable resources exploding solar is also becoming cost effective. Just think we’ll never have to worry about the sun giving us free power for the foreseeable future.

Be Sociable, Share!

• 

4 Responses to “Solar Energy’s New Home Improvement Technology”