Quite a Revolution Taking Place With Solar Panels

When people talk about solar panels, they are essentially talking about photovoltaic panels that take energy from the sun and convert it into electrical energy. Because the sun is a practically inexhaustible source of energy, the hope among many researchers is that new technologies that utilize solar panels can eventually begin to produce enough electricity for the planet so that we can finally begin to decrease our dependencies on fossil fuels.

Solar Energy - Why All Eyes Are on Israel

In the UK, solar energy is still something of a confusing answer to the problems posed by our ever-dwindling fossil fuel resources. This confusion is unsurprising, our northern European climate is rarely associated with scorching heat - and a quick look at our landscape and coast shows ample area for wind and tidal power. Yet, in recent times the increasing affordability of solar hot water and proof of the benefits that come with it is causing more of us to consider installing solar collectors. But to really keep abreast of the developments in solar technology, we can learn the most from Israel.

Super Solar Power Project

Giant solar power project.

Many people have heard of the solar tower project being constructed in Australia. It is over 1000 meters tall and will produce 200 mega watts of electricity by heating air at ground level which then causes the air to rise in the tower. It also serves as a green house. It is slated to go into operation to power about two hundred thousand homes in 2012. Spain has a prototype that is functional and has already been tested near Madrid.

There are as well various photovoltaic solar fields with arrays of solar panels that generate electricity directly from sunlight. The most popular large scale solar power projects are by way of the solar trough or parabolic trough system which concentrates solar heat to a focal point which in most cases is an oil filled pipe. The oil is heated to around 700ºF where it is pumped back to a heat exchanger which creates steam power.

A New Solution to Building Solar Panels Around Anything

Recently conducted research in a lab has found a new way that we can incorporate solar cells. Basically the technology put in simple terms is "stretchable solar cells". Unbelievable? Yes it is, but it's possible. The creator likes to call it the "super skin". Besides being stretchable they are flexible too. They can be stretched up to 30% beyond their normal length.

Uses for the flexible solar cells
"One of the applications where stretchable solar cells would be useful is in fabrics for uniforms and other clothes," says one of the students. And quite a lot of other uses too. If you think about it, some vehicles would be able to adapt this flexible, stretchable material around the body. Or homes could use them around different locations of their homes not just the roofs.

We've already seen car companies use similar technology on the roofs of vehicles to power air-conditioning and other uses. The question is really what else can we use this technology for.
The greatest benefit with this new tech is that more people can get creative about how to make solar panels from their homes. No longer do they just have to make roof solar panels, but they can incorporate it around their entire homes and all sorts of portable devices to do the fact that this could also mean lighter solar cells.