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Solar Cells That Mimic Plants |
| One of the major problems with generating electricity from solar energy is that the sun is actually quite damaging. It is damaging to our eyes if we look at it, it is damaging to paper that is left exposed for too long (fading) and it is damaging to photovoltaic cells. It is also damaging to plants, which convert solar energy through a process of photosynthesis. That got some scientists wondering, how do plants survive the damaging aspects of the sun at the same time as utilizing its energy?
The answer they got back led them to be able to design a new kind of solar cell, which theoretically could last just about forever. With plants, the molecules which capture the energy of the sun are always being replaced and repaired. In effect the molecules are broken down to their individual element, and then reassembled again. This means any damaged parts are weaned out, and it is as if brand new molecules are reacting from the sun again. In this way, the plant perpetually avoids being damaged from the sun.
[caption id="attachment_115" align="alignright" width="224" caption="Light sensitive proteins come together with carbon nanotubes to create a solar-energy-capturing material"][/caption]
With the use of nanotechnology, it has been found that essentially the same can be done with man-made solar energy capturing devices. The technology is so small that, much like molecules, the different elements can come apart and then come back together again. And, just like with plants, it is like a whole new material taking in the sun’s energy. This means that it will be able to survive for a very long time, practically indefinitely.
There is a lot of research into solar energy at the moment, most of it to increase the efficiency. This technique will also prolong the lifespan of the solar cells. These sorts of cells are made from extremely tiny tubes made from carbon, nanotubes really, as well as protein from plants and a few other materials as well. The way it works, basically, is that the proteins, which are light sensitive, assemble themselves on the carbon nanotubes. Assemble themselves is the key here, they are too small to be physically manipulated by technology. A surfactant is also added in, which is a substance which keeps certain materials apart, much like soap does. And then it is taken out, meaning that the material has to reassemble, and it does, but in a different and new way. Thus the process of the plant is mimicked.
The more efficient and long lasting the solar cell becomes, the better it becomes at capturing solar energy, and the more it becomes a viable option for generating electricity in more and more capacities. It is already at a state however where it can vastly reduce energy bills, as well as help to lessen the pollution of the planet. It is looking good for the popularity of solar energy to continue to increase as more research continues to be done all over the planet, and even outside the atmosphere on the International Space Station! There has never been a better time to get involved in solar energy, to save money and save the Earth. |
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Government Looking to Cut Back Green Energy Policy? |
| A government spending review is due out next October, and there are some concerns that green energy programs will be stripped back. As is nearly always the case with government comments however, it is a case of reading between the lines to ascertain what is really being said, so it is unclear what is going to happen.
[caption id="attachment_110" align="alignright" width="300" caption="The government is sending mixed messages on green energy"][/caption]
The comment this time came from Charles Hendry, from the Department of Energy and Climate Change, who said that the upcoming renewable heat incentive scheme (RHI) is being closely reviewed. At the moment, the scheme, worth £27bn, is set to give people money for generating heat in a green way. This is set to complement the feed-in tariff scheme which is already doing the same for electricity generated from solar energy and other renewable sources. That Hendry is “closely reviewing” the scheme does not, in itself, mean anything. After all we would expect every government program to be gone over carefully before it was brought out. However, a review can also mean that changes are looking to be made. What sort of changes? Well, Hendry also commented that “pretty substantial bills” could be created by the new scheme. And as we all know, the government is looking to save money at the moment.
Reading between the lines, therefore, “closely reviewing,” looks to mean how to make it cost less. Since this is a scheme which plans to pay people for generating heat in a green way, it is difficult to see how this would be done without it meaning less green energy will be produced. What about the feed-in tariff, though? As reported in our last post, the amount of solar energy being created by private individuals has increased due to the scheme. This is not to be reviewed until 2012 however, so should not be affected in the review.
Investors in solar energy are getting nervous however, and are said to be holding off on making investments until the government gives a clear sign of what they intend to do. A statement from the spokeswoman at the Department of Energy and Climate change was unlikely to help. She again managed to say that the government is simply doing what it should be doing, reviewing the costs, to make sure everything is as efficient as possible. Does this mean that they might find that encouraging more green energy, more solar energy, would be in the long run the more efficient option? If you take them at face value, then yes. Again, however, if you are looking to read between the lines, it probably means they are looking to save as much money as possible. And then call it being efficient, even if it does hurt the program.
For the time being, however, with the feed-in tariff in effect, installing solar energy panels has never made such good sense. Through energy savings and the feed-in tariff, many households could make as much as £600-£1,000 every year. Even without the feed-in tariff, the savings on your energy bills are substantial, plus you are helping to reduce carbon emissions. All in all, this is the best time to turn to solar energy and get a solar panel installed. |
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Increase in Number of Home PV Cell Installations |
| The amount of Solar photovoltaic panels which have been installed by homeowners has increased last month. The figures, out today, show that 3,606 panels were put up in the month of August, which is more than double the previous high, which came in July. This probably has a lot to do with the government’s feed-in-tarrif scheme, which pays for the extra energy produced that is then fed back into the national grid.
[caption id="attachment_106" align="alignright" width="259" caption="A home making use of the feed-in tariff"][/caption]
It should be noted, however, that we are still lagging well behind other countries in Europe in this regard, especially Austria and Germany. This was a point which was made by the head of the Solar Trade Association, David Matthews. Although reportedly pleased with the increase, he clearly wishes to see even more done. On the topic of the feed-in-tariff scheme, which he also welcomes, he is concerned to make sure that there is not a falling off, a so-called “bust” after the “boom.” This can be achieved, he believes, with the implementation of the Renewable Heat Incentive, which is already in the works. This, it is reported, would complement the feed-in-tariff and make sure that uptake remains high.
This comes at a time when renewables are increasingly being introduced all over the country, as has recently been reported here. From public bodies being able to profit from the feed-in-tariff, to plans for the building of a solar farm in Cornwall, to research on renewable energy in Sheffield (not to mention in space!). How long it will take to be able to match the continent is still not clear though.
The key, really, is to get normal people on board with solar energy. With the large increase in the number of installations of solar panels being installed, perhaps this is beginning to happen. Solar cells are not just environmentally friendly, they are now becoming cost-effective as well. Not only will they reduce your electricity bill, but with the feed-in-tariff you will now be making money on the side by installing solar panels. And saving the Earth at the same time! This confluence of factors means that the number of people taking the opportunity to have solar panels on their roof will in all likelihood continue to grow.
There have been a total of 8,037 households so far which have had solar panels installed since the implementation of the feed-in-tariff. This is in comparison to 373 wind devices, 2 micro-combined heat and power devices and 39 hydro devices which have been installed by people for their homes. Obviously then, solar energy is far more popular. This is probably because it is actually profitable, so if similar schemes could be made for other forms of renewable energy they should have a large take up as well. For now, however, your best bet for renewable energy is solar energy. Not only will you help to save the Earth, but you will save money at the same time. |
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Solar Cells to be Put on the Moon? |
| The first steps towards creating solar energy on the moon are being made, with a plan being put into effect to grow crystals in space that will make solar cells more efficient.
[caption id="attachment_100" align="alignright" width="259" caption="The ISS, powered by solar energy"][/caption]
The technique, Molecular Beam Epitaxy, works a vacuum, and the only readily available, large enough vacuum is Space. To begin with the crystals are to be grown on the International Space Station (ISS), beginning in 2013, but long term they could be grown on a large scale on the moon.
The crystals can improve solar cells’ efficiency by 60%, and the scientists involved have suggested that it would likely be a revolution which would have a greater impact than the introduction of mobile phones.
The crystals, ultra-thin semiconductor films, due to the fact that they are grown in space, would be extremely pure. Although it is possible to produce vacuums on Earth, they do not have the cleanliness necessary for this sort of work, they are always open to some sort of contamination. In space this will not be a problem; a lab could be created which will dock with the ISS, in which the crystals are to be grown. For extra protection, and to create what is known as an “ultra-high” vacuum, a shield will be used that will make the atoms disperse behind the mechanism in a cone shaped space.
At the moment this is an ostensibly Russian project, but other countries will be able to take advantage of the solar energy eventually produced providing it goes ahead. In fact the technique was invented many years ago, and is based on experiments which have already been carried out on US space shuttles during the 1990s. It was found, however, that the space shuttle created too much contamination, which is why it has been decided that using the ISS would be the only way to create a totally empty, pure environment in which to grow the crystals. The space station will also allow them to keep experimenting and producing crystals for longer periods of time than was possible when they were using space shuttles.
If everything goes well then eventually solar energy could be generated on the moon from the sun. The logistics of how it would all work and how the electricity would be taken back to Earth, or whether or not it would supply power for a base on the moon have not been specified. At the moment of course, this is all just ideas, science fiction, but that is how all scientific ideas start out before they become science fact. Of course hover boards also started out as science fiction... and looks to remain that way at the moment. Solar energy generated in space, however, looks as if it could become a reality relatively soon. |
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Finally, Sunlight Put to its True Purpose |
| The Sun, of course, is the ultimate source of all the energy in the solar system. Without the Sun, the plants would not grow, which means that animals would not exist, which means we would have no way of getting a cheeseburger. Everyone knows that of course, but sometimes we forget that without energy from the sun even the fossil fuels would not have formed. In a sense, then, fossil fuels are also a form of solar energy. The point here of course is that they are not sustainable and they pollute the atmosphere with all sorts of harmful toxins when they burn.
[caption id="attachment_95" align="alignright" width="192" caption="Toothbrushes that clean with sunshine"][/caption]
The last thing you are probably expecting to read about now is toothbrushes. (Unless the picture gave you a clue!) Well, scientists are testing a solar powered toothbrush now. Of course toothbrushes have always been solar powered because we are solar powered. Without the sun food would not grow, without food we would not grow or function. So in a very real way, the energy we use to brush our teeth is solar energy. These new toothbrushes are then, we can say, doubly solar powered. They have little cells, like the ones they use for solar powered calculators.
Now, if it was just an electric toothbrush which is powered by solar energy, that would be impressive but not that big a deal. After all, just about anything has the potential to be solar powered. What is most impressive about these solar powered toothbrushes is that they do away with the need for toothpaste.
If you now have an image of beautiful rays of sunlight streaming down into the toothbrush and beaming into your mouth, so that you are literally cleaning your teeth with sunshine, then you are, quite obviously, wrong about that. Instead what happens is that the little solar panels transfer electrons to the head of the toothbrush, and these electrons form a reaction with the acid in your mouth, and this goes on to kill all the bacteria and plaque.
The toothbrush is being developed in Japan by Dr. Kunio Komiyama, who is now testing the product with volunteers. The design was actually produced fifteen years previously, but only now have they been able to make them. Successful tests on bacteria in the lab have already been carried out, showing that the toothbrushes do have the capability to do what they are supposed to do. When human subjects are introduced of course, anything can happen.
You can be sure though that we will be reporting on it if a toothbrush does hit the markets which is powered by solar energy. And if you happen to be a manufacturer of toothpaste, it might be time to start updating your resume. |
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Energy of the Future |
| It is reasonably well accepted now that we cannot rely on fossil fuels forever, or even all that much longer. It is called non-renewable energy for a good reason, namely we use it once and we cannot use it again. In a sense of course that is true of all energy, even the Sun is dying slowly. When the Sun dies, however, we are going to have bigger problems than everything in the freezer going off.
[caption id="attachment_91" align="alignright" width="275" caption="Power Stations of the Future?"][/caption]
There is a lot of new research at the moment though which is looking to find viable alternatives to non-renewable energy sources. Recently a car was revealed which could run on sewage. You have to wonder what the exhaust fumes on that are going to be like though. Meanwhile scientists in Israel have been busy developing batteries that you can make out of potatoes. But surely it’s going to be even harder to get kids to eat their vegetables if they can also use them to charge their i-pod.
Closer to home, scientists at Southampton University have been developing an idea that most of us have actually had at one time or another. We know we need energy to move, and we know that we can create energy when we move. Bicycles run on human energy, as do footballs and trampolines. Well, what if we could capture all that energy that goes to no use, like walking down the street or playing with our pets. That is what the scientists in Southampton are developing, a special sort of ink which can be printed on clothes and then be able to capture 67 watts of energy with every step. If nothing else it would be a great motivational technique to get you to exercise: no you can’t have a cup of tea, not until you’ve generated enough power to boil the kettle!
Solar energy of course is still going to be an important part of all of this. NASA has recently developed a way to keep the solar panels on a rover on Mars clean, by zapping off the dust. This technology is due to be used on Earth for solar farms in dusty deserts such as in Arizona. Of course, barring a rather rapid and dramatic increase in global warming, we shouldn’t have any deserts to worry about in Britain for a while. There is another development which is being worked on however, which could benefit everyone. One of the main problems with solar power is that sometimes the weather isn’t good and even if it is, at night there is no sun at all. Well Japanese scientists are tackling this problem by designing a solar array which can be put into geostationary orbit, in space, allowing it access to the sun with nothing in the way for 24 hours every day. The energy would be beamed back in the form of microwaves. Unfortunately it won’t be tested until 2030. Until then we’ll have to make do with poo-powered cars, potato powered i-pods and an electric fashion sense! |
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Sheffield: Epicentre of New Energy Revolution? |
| At the opening of a solar farm in Sheffield, Deputy PM Nick Clegg compared the so-called “new energy revolution” to the industrial revolution, with Sheffield as the “epicentre” of both. The irony of that, as well as the irony that Sheffield is not known for its wonderful sunshine (and true to form, it was a cloudy day as he opened the site, at the height of summer) was not lost on him either.
[caption id="attachment_86" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Deputy PM opens Solar Farm on roof in Sheffield"][/caption]
The Solar Farm is situated on top of the roof of Sheffield University. The Hicks Building to be precise. Made up of seventy square metres of PV solar cells, this will be enough to power the building itself, as well as provide excess for the national grid, allowing them to take advantage of the feed-in-tariff scheme. They will not only be generating electricity however, but giving researchers the opportunity to research and experiment with the solar panels, to make them even more effective and efficient.
This is not the only green scheme being carried out in the city of Sheffield. The South Yorkshire Energy Centre teaches people about how to use renewable energy as well as the benefits of taking advantage of the feed-in-tariff. The centre shows the practicality of it by using the technology themselves to run the place; ground source heat pumps and solar thermal cells on the roof heat the water, while a wind turbine produces electricity.
Meanwhile on the other side of the city, one of the most distinctive feature of the skyline are the three wind turbines mounted to the roof on the Sheffield City College building. There really is a lot going on in Sheffield for renewable energy. A group formed by volunteers called Sheffield Renewables is also looking for financing to build hydro-electric plants nearby.
As always, of course, not everyone is happy about these schemes. Especially close by in the country, a lot of renewable energy schemes are opposed by people who fear for the damage which will be done to the visuals of the surroundings, as well as the disruption caused to wildlife and the noise that will be created. It is important, of course, to minimize these factors as much as possible when choosing a location for renewable energy.
Such objections have not been made about the solar farm located on top of Sheffield University, however, which looks set to be a successful operation all around. No doubt there will be more news of people and organizations making use of the feed-in-tariff in the months to come as well. At the moment, it does appear that Sheffield is one of the centres from which renewable energy will continue to expand. |
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Local Councils See the Light? |
| Recently we reported that a government ban on local councils taking advantage of the feed-in-tariff scheme had been lifted. The program, which encourages people to have solar panels installed on their property by offering payment for any excess electricity which is then fed back into the national grid, was previously only open to private individuals. With it now being available to councils as well, it could create a nice little revenue stream for them, at the same time as reducing carbon emissions.
[caption id="attachment_82" align="alignright" width="150" caption="The Sun rises on solar energy schemes"][/caption]
We can now report that Oxford is one of the first councils to express an interest in taking advantage of this. They have calculated that if they cover the roof of their Town Hall in solar panels, they should generate £10,000 every year. They are also looking at other facilities that they could place solar panels on to, which could raise their annual income from solar power to £100,000. This would be a huge bonus for them, not to mention the carbon emissions that would be saved.
The only cost outlay that will have to be made are the initial installation fees. This could pose a problem to Oxford Council because the grant from the government has been cut, meaning that it might take longer to get the funds together to install the solar panels. It has been stated, however, that it is not a question of if the project is going to go ahead. It is only a question of how long it will take to get going.
Meanwhile in Wales, solar thermal panels used to heat water have been installed on the council offices in Bridgend for four months and savings are already being made. There is a marked reduction in the quantity of energy needed from gas to heat the water in their building, which means a reduction in cost as well as carbon emissions.
The project was completed with funding from the programme Low Carbon Buildings. The results are on show in the entrance to the council offices, on a display which shows how much energy is being produced by the sun through the solar cells. Bridgend council are obviously proud of their efforts, pleased to be reducing their carbon footprint as well as showing others the way in terms of making use of renewable energy.
Indeed, it is likely that these two councils will be showing the way to other local authorities as regards the use of renewable energy as a means of generating funds. With the savings they will make on their own electricity bills, as well as the revenue they will incur as a result of the feed-in-tariff, councillors doing the math up and down the country are bound to come to the same conclusion as Oxford Council. That it should not be a matter of if they do this, only when. |
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UK’s First Ground-Mounted Solar Power Station to be Built in Cornwall |
| One of Europe’s largest manufacturers of solar modules, Solar SE is planning to build a ground mounted solar power station in Cornwall, which will be the first of its kind in the UK. This venture will be undertaken in conjunction with the British company 35 Degrees. The result will be a 1.3MWp power station, capable of providing energy for 300 homes.
[caption id="attachment_75" align="alignright" width="300" caption="A Ground Mounted Solar Power Station, as planned for Cornwall"][/caption]
Planning permission has yet to be obtained for the proposed power plant, however with the great encouragement the government has been giving for more solar power to be generated in the UK, permission is likely to be obtained. 35 Degrees intends to build more solar power plants in the same South West region over a five year time period, which should reach an output power of 100 MWp altogether.
This comes on the back of the recent government scheme to get private individuals to make their residences into mini power stations themselves. The feed-in-tariff program encourages people to install solar cells on their roofs, for which they will receive money for any leftover electricity which is fed back into the national grid. As reported recently, local councils and farms are also looking to cash in on this initiative as well.
This solar power station to be build in Cornwall, however, is to be exclusively for the purpose of generating electricity. There are still government subsidies to be had, however, making it a potentially highly profitable enterprise. A local installation company will be hired to build the power plant, using the Black 280/11 monocrystalline modules made by Solar SE. It is to be built on the grounds of what used to be a tin-ore processing company, offering about three hectares of space. Once up and running, the plant should produce up to one and a quarter million kilowatt hours of power, which as mentioned is enough to power about 300 houses. The benefit to the environment will be in the cut of carbon dioxide emissions, which will be in the region of thousands of tons over 25 years.
This is likely to be only the beginning of such solar power projects, with the government subsidies on offer along with the tightening of supply of non-renewable energy and the concern about global warming creating the perfect conditions for such enterprises. Although British residents often like to complain about the weather and how little sun we get, in fact the amount of sunlight we receive is pretty much on a par with Germany. It is no surprise, however, that the first of these sorts of plants is to be built in Cornwall, as that is the area which on average receives the most amount of sunlight in the UK. |
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Farms to Become Mini Solar Power Stations |
| Despite the introduction of tractors, combine harvesters and any number of other technological developments which have increased their productivity, farms have still tended to maintain a traditional rural atmosphere. Well, that might all be about to change. Before long, you will probably be seeing barns with advanced technology on their roofs, namely solar panels.
[caption id="attachment_68" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Solar panels covering a barn roof"][/caption]
Under the government’s feed-in-tariff scheme, anyone who installs solar panels on their property will be paid for any excess electricity that they generate which is fed into the national grid. So far this has mostly been used by private citizens on their place of residence. As reported, local councils have recently been allowed to get in on the act as well, and now farmers are being encouraged to take up the offer.
If you think this is going to ruin the nostalgia of the traditional countryside, then don’t blame the farmers. They need the money. Last year their income as a whole fell by 7% on the back of commodity prices, and by investing in this scheme they could earn thousands, or even tens of thousands of pounds a year, depending on the amount of solar panels installed. That is on top of the saving they will make on electricity bills, as the solar panels should be able to cater to all their electricity need. So far only forty farms have put in an application to be allowed to install solar panels, however that number is expected to rise in short order.
With the most amount of sunlight a year on average, Cornwall is well placed to become the hub of this scheme but it will be profitable everywhere, even the Northeast which in general has far more dreary weather. The advantage of this plan is that it does not require a farm to dedicate itself to generating solar power, as the so-called “solar farms” do, in fact it will not disrupt the normal operation of a farm at all. Once the solar panels are installed in fact, nothing more need be done, it will all take care of itself. This could turn out to provide a vital supply of income for farms which may not otherwise be able to survive.
Planning applications are likely to be turned down for many wind farms however, another source of renewable energy which could be used to produce much needed energy, and profits. Councils also have to consider the loss of tourism that could occur if places of natural beauty are considered to be ruined by the introduction of ugly wind turbines. These are likely to be more important in the north, where weather conditions are more conducive to this sort of renewable energy.
With the country’s need to produce more renewable energy, and the farmer’s need to make more money, overall it seems as if this is a perfect convergence of opportunities, but only time will tell. In the meantime, work on the installation of over one thousand solar panels on the farm which hosts the Glastonbury festival has recently begun, and with more farms set to follow suit, be prepared for the traditional countryside to start getting a bit of a science fiction air about it. |
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