How the World Sees Solar Panels Efficiency

The world has changed in many ways in the past 150 years. There have been major advancements in mechanics, medicine, technology, and overall knowledge. But the era of rampant industrialization had a few negative fallouts as well. Even with the rapid development, mankind did not rethink on the adverse effects machines and fossil fuel usage would have on the natural balance of the planet. Today, scientists are concerned about how rapidly the climate is changing and how the atmosphere’s toxicity is rising. Thankfully, the same channels of technology have given us some of the best PV solar panels and water turbines to help us harvest energy from nature. The question here is – are we working on it?

Solar panels efficiency has enhanced manifold since the first photoelectric cells were invented by American scientist Charles Fritts back in 1883. Today, there are cells with efficiency as high as 50% and 60%; converting the ever available sunlight into clean electricity. Small solar panels are also much cheaper than before as the production and manufacturing process has been developed and modified to suit a variety of needs. With different kinds of cells, solar energy can be harvested for powering everything from industries, to satellites, to a torch or laptop. This open avenue to free and eco-friendly electricity is yet just at its nascent stage; but the future looks quite bright.

The different kinds of power units are priced according to PV solar panel ratings by scientific agencies. Housing solutions with ‘green’ solutions integrated into their systems have subsidies from the government. Companies can also claim similar subsidies for developing renewable sources of electricity. Solar modules prices are based on this rating standard. Of course, better the productivity, the higher the rating and proportionately, bigger the price tags that come attached!

The future scopes in comparison to the best PV solar panels today seem to be quite different. What is one of the costlier solutions of the global power crisis today is set to be tomorrow’s common resource. Even small solar panels may cost more than what is affordable by most people today. However, science is ever changing and rethinking strategies. There have been a number of ways that people have looked into easier solutions. The best solar panels manufacturers are looking into some unique solutions for better productivity from the same modules available today.

• Dyes and Chemical Films – Using special chemical enhancers, the simple crystalline silicon plate can best its current PV solar panel ratings. There are various chromatographic and electrical science based methods involved. Scientists are working on inventing better chemical films and dyeing agents to enhance the basic solar panels efficiency to produce electricity.

• Nanotechnology and Bioengineering – Very recently MIT students form America have announced how they have invented a panel with over 60% overall efficiency (under best conditions). By using synthetically engineered viruses and nano tubes to increase the power generation capability of simple panels. Solar modules prices could come down rapidly if their efficiency can be boosted to such a great degree.