New solar cells could even work at night

Outbackjack
Outbackjack: IDAHO FALLS, Idaho, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers say they've developed a new kind of solar cell that can generate energy even at night, promising a new form of renewable energy.

The key is their ability to harvest infrared radiation as well as visible light, Steven Novack at the U.S. Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory in Idaho Falls says.

Almost half of the available energy in the spectrum of solar radiation resides in the infrared band, and infrared is re-emitted as heat by the Earth's surface after the sun has gone down, meaning the cells can even capture some energy during the night, he says.

Novack estimates a complete system using the new cells would have an overall efficiency of 46 percent, whereas the most efficient current silicon solar cells top out at about 25 percent.

Also, currently solar cells can only produce their top output in a narrow range of conditions. For example, if the sun is in the wrong position, sunlight is reflected off a silicone solar cell instead of being absorbed to create energy.

The new cells can absorb radiation at a variety of angles, the researchers say.
13 years ago Report
0
StuckInTheSixties
StuckInTheSixties: How expensive would they be? If they're cost prohibitive, capability is irrelevant.
13 years ago Report
0
AussieOi
AussieOi: I say it is definately worth looking into.
13 years ago Report
0
Outbackjack
Outbackjack: Its a good question of what the cost could be.We could only hope the price came down as more companies made them.Conventional Solar panels have already come down in price by around 40%-60% and most of those can put power out on a cloudy day as opposed to the darker panels 10 years ago which did not.

These new panels would be great for countries/regions where there was little sunlight due to bad weather or say a research station in winter at the South pole.
13 years ago Report
0
StuckInTheSixties
StuckInTheSixties: If they were affordable - this applies to ANY solar technology - it would be good for EVERYONE EVERYWHERE.

But it hasn't gotten cheap enough. Yet.
13 years ago Report
0
hellbhoy
hellbhoy: Excellent idea Outback that in harvesting energy but the name is a bit thick I find,solar cells that don't need a solar source ?.Maybe they should rename the idea to "Infrared energy cells".Those cells would be ideal in a cloudy U.K.,I do hope they can make such a thing viable.
13 years ago Report
0
StuckInTheSixties
StuckInTheSixties: I suppose the proper term would be "photovoltaic."
13 years ago Report
0
AussieOi
AussieOi: How about a polonium fuel cell, seems to be a bit of that floating around.
13 years ago Report
0
PureSilver67
PureSilver67: While I am a strong advocate, especially in Australia for renewable energy including solar power, one should also look at building houses the right direction, use passive heating/ cooling (get rid of airconditioners) and using better insulating products. One must also consider the actual production of solar cells etc. A lot of what is used, is mined. This is an interesting development though, making the most out of available light sources.

We also need to revert to a simpler lifestyle ... oh and no my house is not airconditioned, I do not have solar because I can not afford it (yet), I drive the most economical car within my price range, I try to buy local and in season as much as possible - but am far from perfect.
12 years ago Report
0
AussieOi
AussieOi: Passive heating is a great idea, we can improve so many things with intelligent planning and design. Pity it doesn't float the media's boat though. Non-sensational things are actually the bedrock of intellect.
12 years ago Report
0
colonthepunctuation
(Post deleted by staff 12 years ago)
PureSilver67
PureSilver67: Of course it can power an entire house .. you need more panels for more power of course (but I have never been good at figuring out kilowatt hours etc) ... People even get rebates from power companies when they can feed power back into the grid from their solar cells.

Draw backs are:
1) Expense .. takes quite a while to pay for itself
2) Not so great in areas of short days/ low sunlight
3) Can get damaged since on the roof
4) To be fully solar powered (no electricity) you need to have a large battery storage area.

Costs are coming down, but as long as coal power is there and mining is priority ... then solar suffers.
12 years ago Report
0