Renergy Cafe » OSU

Solar Energy Future Possibilities

admin — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 07:08:54 +0000

Many advancements, like the ones made by Ohio State University (see Solar Energy Breakthough at OSU) indicate that in the not so far future solar energy has the potential to begin significantly supplementing our energy needs. The current photovoltaic cell does offer us a glimpse at future solar possibilities. Unfortunately, due to its bulky size to output ratio and the expense to install and maintain, solar energy will not catch on until a more efficient and affordable option is made available. As we continue to realize the need for energy independence, and devote our money and resources towards solutions (see also Obama: Our Renewable Energy Future), advancements will be made. Judging by the current breakthroughs being seen these advancements will probably occur sooner rather than later.

The 2010 Toyota Prius reportedly will come with a solar panel option that will extend the battery life, but what if more could be done. With the new material the Ohio State Researchers developed about the conventional cells it will increase the output potential. What if all day you could operate your vehicle and charge it’s batteries simply by using a fixed solar panel. Also consider powering your entire house with one smaller solar cell and even being able to contribute excess energy back into the grid for others to use.

Whether we as a global community will be energy dependent in ten years from now is unsure. What is known, is that advancements are being made in both the solar cells and the batteries that are often used to store the solar energy. It may be anywhere between five years or twenty before highly efficient solar collectors are produced. When they are, we will all benefit.

Solar Energy Breakthrough at OSU

admin — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 23:47:30 +0000

At Ohio State University, the future of solar technology is being made. Recently researchers discovered a way to capture all the energy of all visible sunlight. By combining certain conductive plastics and alloy they created a material that is capable of generating far more output than conventional photovoltaic cells.

Using a supercomputer to model different configurations of molecules, researchers were able to determine a hybrid material for testing. They synthesized this material and measured it for frequency of light absorbed and also for length of time electrons remained free. It was at this point they discovered how effective this new material is.

The Video Learning Center explains that conventional silicon solar cells operate by reacting with photons in light and create free electrons which flow as current in a circuit. But these electrons only remain free for a very short time. The material the OSU researchers created is not only able to capture all visible light, but also to free electrons for 7 million times longer than silicon. As a result more electricity is capable of being produced than ever before.

The Ohio State web site quotes the head of the Department of Chemistry, Malcolm Chisholm, saying “There are other such hybrids out there, but the advantage of our material is that we can cover the entire range of the solar spectrum.”

This new material is still in design stages and suspected to be years away from commercial production. With more and more attention being given to alternative energies, it is safe to assume that advances in alternative energies will continue, and we could soon begin to see global energy independence.