| I recently came across an article talking about flexible | | | | could top it would be some kind of fold-up, portable |
| solar panels and the cells that power them, and I | | | | wind energy device, which I can't imagine coming out |
| was blown away by some of the new technology | | | | anytime in the near future. But that would be quite |
| coming out on the market. In the current push | | | | the site to see:) |
| towards green, renewable technology, solar energy is | | | | With this newest advancement in flexible solar panels, |
| making huge strides toward greater personal | | | | I expect solar energy to hit a new peak. With the |
| application of its technology. The new photovoltaic | | | | green movement now in full swing and people more |
| solar panels rolling out of the factories are supposed | | | | and more wanting to minimize their effect on the |
| to be both ultra thin and ultra light, able to be rolled | | | | environment, I have a feeling that the new designs |
| up like a beach towel and carried away. This is a | | | | and technologies are going to revolutionize our |
| huge benefit over the traditional silicon solar panels, | | | | thinking. It isn't really that solar power is efficient. It's |
| those heavy, rigid panels you see on the rooftops of | | | | the fact that people are wanting to take the welfare |
| many homes. These new flexible sheets are | | | | of the environment into their own hands. Knowing |
| completely different, made to be portable and used | | | | that you can buy a backpack for instance, that will |
| for personal application, like charging everyday | | | | generate enough electricity to charge your Ipod and |
| electronics without having to plug into the grid. | | | | your cell phone, is something that's never been heard |
| They're a huge plus for sustainable, green energy | | | | of before. In my opinion, the future is going to be |
| enthusiasts. | | | | motivated by sustainability and self-sufficiency. These |
| But there are added benefits. Amorphous, meaning | | | | are just a handful of the most current |
| shapeless, silicon thin-film solar cells can be | | | | advancements. Everyday, we're coming out with |
| manufactured at a cheaper rate than conventional | | | | newer, smaller, more cost effective versions! Modern |
| crystalline cells primarily because they use less | | | | science and research are rallying around solar power, |
| material than the traditional cells. Newer cells are only | | | | coming out with new and awesome technology |
| 1 micrometer thick. Older crystalline solar cells | | | | everyday. |
| generally came in 150-to-200-micrometer-thick slices. | | | | But that's not all. There's just something that's almost |
| Not only that, but solar cells are becoming more and | | | | exciting about generating your own power. It's like |
| more efficient everyday. The electric charge and | | | | growing food in your own garden. Even powering |
| voltage generated by the newest systems are many | | | | your own lighting can be exhilarating. I remember the |
| times more powerful than the old. The most modern | | | | first time I used a hand cranked flashlight. There was |
| cells, called triple junction cells are being mad with | | | | just something almost magical knowing that hand |
| three different materials--amorphous silicon, | | | | powered energy was making enough of a charge to |
| amorphous silicon germanium, and nanocrystalline | | | | power the battery. I mean, when could a person |
| silicon. This gives maximum energy absorption | | | | ever go to a little grassy park and break out a laptop |
| because each of these materials is tuned to capture | | | | while lying in a field. It's true that with the latest |
| the energy in different parts of the solar spectrum. | | | | advancements in lithium ion batteries, laptops can hold |
| That kind of technology is brand new. More than | | | | up to 8 hours of a charge, but most batteries have a |
| that, it's also coming on the scene right at the time | | | | limited shelf life and begin to lose efficiency very |
| when solar panels are becoming lighter, more | | | | quickly. I'm not sure what the future is going to bring. |
| portable, and even affordable for personal use. | | | | But I'm very excited about the newest wave of |
| Because of those three factors, I personally think | | | | flexible solar panels just hitting the market. I think |
| that this technology will be the next huge thing in the | | | | we're going to start seeing a lot more of this kind of |
| green energy push. The only thing I can think of that | | | | technology being applied for everyday use. |