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Everyone wants to help the environment these days. People use different tools, such as recycling, driving a hybrid, and using glass instead of plastic. An innovative way to go green is by using solar energy. Many people have special solar panels installed on the roofs of their houses to absorb the sun, using the electrical energy generated by the sun.
An important component of a green lifestyle is the use of renewable energy. Renewable energy is energy that is harnessed from ongoing natural processes, such as the sun and wind. The average cost of a solar energy system varies depending on the types of panels that are used. Equipping an average-sized home with solar panels typically costs between $30 and $70,000. That sounds like a lot of money, but homeowners need to look at the bottom line. Many power companies buy power from people who have their own solar panels. Plus, homeowners don’t have to pay energy bills.
Have you ever wondered how solar panels work? Silicon is the most important ingredient in solar panels. Silicon is an electromagnetically neutral element with four valence electrons. Due to the four valence electrons, silicon takes on the charge of another element. Therefore, it is an ideal base for collecting solar energy. Electricity is produced when electrons go from a negative charge to a positive one. Think of a solar panel like a sandwich. The top panel is made of silicon mixed with negatively charged phosphor. The bottom plate contains silicon mixed with positively charged boron. When the sandwich is placed in the sun, a reaction occurs that generates electricity.
New generation solar panels are considered among the best in the world. Scientists are always looking for a new solar solution. Scientists at the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM) are using next-generation panels to find ways to make the alternative energy source cheaper. They are also trying to increase panel performance and prevent weather outages. One method that is being used is to make the panels with less precious metal. In fact, the new generation panels are made with more copper than silver, which reduces production costs. Another disadvantage of solar panels is that much of the sunlight is reflected back into the sky, rather than being converted into electricity. The scientists learned that the panels can be made non-reflective by adding a non-metric layer of silicon. The new panels were fifteen percent more energy efficient. Solar energy is a promising solution to make the world a greener place. However, scientists need to find a way to make the technology affordable for everyone.