| When it comes to solar energy facts there have been | | | | Scientists are so confident in the development of this |
| some new discoveries and advancements in | | | | new technology that even while this polymer foil is |
| technology in recent years. | | | | currently being developed they are also working on the |
| The time is near when using solar energy will become | | | | development of a plastic solar cell. This new |
| a normal occurrence in our everyday life. Many now | | | | technology is based on what is known as nano |
| believe that within a few years the use of solar power | | | | technology and is gaining breakthroughs even now. |
| will be in such high demand that the cost of using it will | | | | It is believed that this plastic cell will even be able to |
| be low enough to undercut the high costs of oil | | | | continue to harness the sun's power even on cloudy |
| generated electricity. | | | | days. This new breakthrough for harnessing the |
| In the past it was predicted that it may still take over a | | | | infrared rays of the sun is thought to be at least five |
| decade to happen but that is no longer the situation. | | | | times more efficient than the technology that we are |
| Anger over the increase in oil prices recently and the | | | | using at the current time. |
| given vulnerability seems to have been enough to bring | | | | Although using plastic materials for harnessing the sun's |
| people, governments and the scientific professionals | | | | power are by no means something new, the power to |
| together to begin to seriously look into new reliable | | | | actually reap the infrared portion of the sun is a recent |
| alternative energy sources. | | | | development. Current technology is only able to use |
| What could possibly be any more reliable than our sun. | | | | the visible rays of the sun. The infrared portion is |
| Homes that are currently using the power of the sun | | | | invisible and is a good half the power of the sun which |
| not only benefit from the never endingenergy of the | | | | is why this type of plastic will generate even more |
| sun but also see an increase in the value of their | | | | power at a lower cost than current plastic solar cells. |
| homes. Many who have homes that use solar power | | | | In other words even the best plastic cells at this time |
| are often even paid for the excess power that they | | | | can only harness about 6% of the power of the sun |
| are able to generate to their power grids. | | | | while the new plastic solar cells are anticipated to be |
| At the present time, photovoltaic cells, plate collectors, | | | | able to use up to 30% of the sun's power. This will all |
| and heliostats are used to collect the sun's energy by | | | | be a reality soon because of the studies and |
| facing the solar panels toward the sun or by simply | | | | developments that are currently being conducted. |
| building and intalling the panels in places where they will | | | | Researchers along with scientists believe that at some |
| get the most sun light. When technology begins to | | | | time in the near future we will be able to generate all |
| develop, there is often what we all know as the | | | | of our energy requirements using solar farms. At this |
| snowball effect. Once we reach certain aspects of | | | | time the price for harnessing the sun's power is |
| discovery, the speed at which we begin to uncover | | | | believed to be up to 3 or 4 times per kilowatt hour |
| new developments is often amazingly quick. | | | | than that of conventional electricity. Recent discoveries |
| Polymer foil is one of those new materials that are | | | | and the advancement of current technology is |
| being developed at this time. It is as thin as paper and | | | | expected to lower these costs dramatically and in the |
| 200 times lighter when compared to the glass | | | | very near future. |
| collecting plates that are in use today. The fact is that | | | | These flexible plastic solar cells and the polymer foil |
| there will most likely come a time in the near future | | | | are just two examples of the technology scientists |
| when the demand for this type of development will | | | | and researchers are working on to give a cleaner, |
| cause it to have great chances for mass production. | | | | greener, safer environment that will ultimately free our |
| The glass based materials now used to collect the | | | | planet from the dependency we now have on the high |
| heat often need expensive substrates and require a | | | | cost and ever depleting supply of oil. |
| lot of support simply because of it's weight. The | | | | These new solar energy facts are an exciting |
| polymer foil will most likely be light enough to be | | | | development in technology that will only get better as |
| attached simply to the walls of any home or other | | | | more research is conducted and more advancements |
| structure. | | | | are made available for our energy needs. |