Silicon is commonly used to make solar cells due to its special chemical properties. A silicon atom has 14 electrons that are arranged in three different shells.

solar cell

The first two shells which have two and eight electrons each are completely full. However, the outer shell is only half full as it only has four electrons. Thus a silicon atom is always on a look out for ways to fill up its last shell.

In order to do this, it will have to share electrons with four nearby atoms to gain stability. It is just as if each atom has joined four hands to four neighbors. This is what forms the crystalline structure, leading to the formation of a PV cell.

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We have all seen calculators with solar cells, that enable the device to work without any batteries, and can be used for unlimited time period as long as there’s enough light.

PV cell

These solar cells that are present in calculators and many other devices are also called photovoltaic (PV) cells. As the name depicts, these cells have the capability of converting sunlight directly into electricity.

A group of cells can also be connected together electrically, fitted into a frame to form a solar panel. Moreover, these solar panels can be combined together to form larger solar arrays, similar to the ones operating at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada.

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Coal’s Future

by Q. AB. on March 7, 2010 · 0 comments

in Coal Energy

America is having large coal resources but not like as before. In 2007 the National Academy of Sciences reported that the country likely has at least a 100-year supply at today’s consumption levels, but that could not confirm the often quoted assertion that the nation has a 250 year supply of coal.

Coal's Future

Since then, the U.S. Geologic Survey substantially reduced its estimate about the amount of coal, which is economically recoverable in the nation’s most important coal field, the Powder River Basin. Anyhow even if the United States coal reserves remain abundant. There are other factors that may limit the coal use. As there are options to limit carbon dioxide emissions in future, which will very likely reduce the production of the coal, in the absence of the success of carbon capture and confiscation on a large scale.

[click to Read More…]

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You’d be forgiven for casting your mind to the lethargic Texan plains of the west at the mention of wind turbines. But check this out, there are far more ways to capture renewable wind energy, and I think you might even agree that you’ll be tempted to try some of these just for their unorthodox nature! Oh and just to give credit where credit is due, Texas does come out on top as far as wind power in the U.S is concerned.

Urban Chic

Rotating Skyscrapers

Nope, you didn’t misread that, that’s what it say’s, Rotating Skyscrapers. And it probably won’t come as a surprise when I tell you Dubai’s the place to find it! Every single floor of this building will be able to move to the current of the wind. Imagine that? Never having to stare at the same view instead of instead of actually working anymore?

[click to Read More…]

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What is the purest form of power generation? The unanimous answer is Wind Energy. As Wind Energy has numerous benefits like no pollution, no burning of fossils and a clean setup. Although, it should not be perceived that it’s a facile setup unit. Various factors combine to make an impact on the amount of energy you can generate out of wind.wind Turbines

Power in the Wind

It’s vital to understand the relation of wind speed data with power production. Therefore, the power is proportional to the wind speed cubed. It is important to know the wind speed precisely, because any error is magnified when calculating power.

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Wind and sun are the most familiar forms of renewable energy. While biomass (plant material and animal waste) provides 15 times more energy in United States than wind and solar power combined and still have potential to supply more.

how biomass works

There is a vast range of biomass energy resources, that includes tree, grass, crops, forestry, agricultural, and urban wastes. Biomass is the oldest source of renewable energy used by humans when they known how to burn fire.

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Today almost all coal plants are using “pulverized coal” (PC) technology, this technology involves grinding the coal, burning it to make steam, and running the steam through a turbine to generate electricity. There is a latest technology known as Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC). It converts coal into gas and that gas runs through a combustion turbine to generate electricity. This process uses the excess heat.

IGCC Power Plant

Pulverized coal burning emits enormous quantities of carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, mercury  and microscopic particulate matter. Some existing plants and all new plants are having pollution control technology for reducing emissions of some of these pollutants, specifically sulfur dioxide and particulates. Most common methods to control the pollution is using of scrubbers and filters. Scrubbers are having wet limestone slurry for absorbing sulfur when it pass through while filters are collections of large cloth bags that catch particulates as they pass through the cloth. But even then some smaller  particulates can pass out the smoke stack into the air.

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Human’s curiosity leads towards invention, like utilizing energy from sun and generating electricity. This is a renewable form of energy and is an unlimited resource unlike other resources to generate electricity. This discovery further leads  to invention of appliances and instruments that uses sun rays to generate electricity and when applied  to a large scale  it results in creation of solar power plants.

worlds-largest-solar-plant_2570

What is a solar power plant?

A solar power plant captures the sun rays and convert photons into electricity. A solar semi-conductor possess electrons and the  sun ray contains photons. As a  photons  enter  this semi-conductor, these photons are captured and the electrons are transformed into electricity. This mechanism depends on the nature of material being used as semi-conductor.

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As we are living in a world of scarce resources and unlimited wants, our motive is to maximize our needs within limited resources. Energy is the main requirement of human beings for survival. Since we are living in industrial age and we need power and energy to fulfill our needs. Therefore, human is finding an alternate renewable form of energy and ultimately discovering solar energy to produce electricity.yhst-99239380869547_2000_489880

Solar Power Charger

Thus this finding lead man to invent appliances that uses this form of energy and ultimately discovering solar power charger. A solar power charger stores the electricity that is produced using solar energy. Main idea behind this creation was that the electricity produced due to solar energy was usable during day time only. As the sun sets, you are left with no electricity at night. Therefore, the order of the day was to invent such device that can make the electricity available even when there are no sun rays.

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Wind Turbine Goes Portable

by Maya on February 22, 2010 · 0 comments

in Wind Energy

Renewable energy that is the hottest of the focal point in current times cannot be used up and it does not generate pollution. Sustainability means that we make sure we meet our energy needs and ensure the health of the planet for future generations. Eventually, we will run out of nonrenewable energy supplies and the pollution caused by using these energy sources is already becoming a serious problem. The sooner we switch to using renewable energy, the cleaner the air we breathe and water we drink will be. Among these renewable energy resources the foldable wind generator is also one of the innovations but there is still a question mark on its development. portable windturbine

Eolic design has been introduced in foldable wind generator class but it is uncertain as to whether it’s capable or not. The Eolic looks great and is an incredible idea, but can it actually create enough energy to power anything and is it durable enough to actually hold its ground in a wind strong enough to create electricity? Still it’s an ambitious idea and we have to sit back and see its viability.

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Changing your energy source is a commitment. Going solar is trigger enough to set off you commit-o-phoebes, especially with the wide range of myths out there to chose from? Well then, here’s to separating the milk from the myth!

Solar is far too expensive!

Ok, paying up to $32,000 up front to purchase your own solar electricity system might leave a noticeable dent, but why not opt for a different way to pay? By financing yourself through a PPA (power purchase agreement) or a solar lease offered by state governments you can switch over to clean solar energy without the cost. And remember, electricity rates are not much more of a picnic either and not set to get any tastier. Switching to solar electricity could minimize the expense increase from your utility services.

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