Solar Panels?

Question

Has there been any break throughs in Solar panels? And if not what is taking so long to make this a viable source of energy for humans!

Answer 1

Production of solar panels has been growing at an annual rate of 40% per year for the last 5 years. That means the Solar industry is more than 7X larger in 2006 than it was in 2000.

Solar panels are now consuming more silicon than all other electronic uses combined. That has actually caused a world wide silicon shortage that is temporarily limiting solar panel growth. Even at these astronomic growth rates it will take several decades for the solar industry to grow big enough to supply most of our power. Electrical generation in the world is one of its largest industries if not the largest it took 100 years to create the existing electrical industry. Creating a brand new world's-largest-industry, which is what solar will become, will take some time.

There are literally dozens of new companies working madly on new types of solar panels. One in particular Nano Solar was just funded with $100 million dollars to build a new production facility that will increase the worlds production of solar panels by almost 25%. There are many other examples I could list.

Back in the 1980's most of the solar panel makers were bought out by ... oil companies. And surprise surprise, solar really stalled in the '80's. Solar did not get back on track until new startup companies started to form about 10 years ago in response to increasing energy prices.

Right now solar power is the fastest growing investment field. Do some research on what is happening now. It is very encouraging.

Answer 2

They have improved their efficiency some, not much. The problem is it takes many to produce the Needed Voltages and Amperes. I want to build a self sufficient home, and solar is an area I am interested in. For now, I can get the Panels, but, it the cost is so high. Maybe if the demand where greater it would help lower the cost. Example is the old VCRs, when they first came out they were expensive. In time as the Demand grew their price dropped considerably, and, maybe their quality, but, they still did the job.

Answer 3

Solar panels are better than they used to be but the cost per kilowatt is still too high. If you live in a state that will rebate most of the cost then it is feasible but all you are really doing is having other people pay for your panels. Stay tuned, however, as they are still being worked on.

Answer 4

If we made our highways out of solar panels some how we could produce all of our power from that.

Otherwise using solar heat to power engines is far more efficient.

The problem is that we can pick about 10% of the solar wavelength with any material we use. The rest reflects or impacts as heat.

Answer 5

With increases in Natural Gas from $1-2 /million BTU to $6-8/ million BTU.

You will soon see additional increases in electricity rates, as much of this cost has not yet trickled down to the consumer market.

You will see that the economics of solar panels will vastly improve, but will still cost more that typical utilities.

But, close.

Answer 6

No they are taking their time in developing new solar panels. But I did hear about a new one that recharges cell phone batteries, mp3 batteries and the like. I guess it is a start.

Answer 7

Disbelief

Answer 8

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