Solar Cell Central
By: Four Peaks Technologies Inc., Scottsdale, AZ
Welcome to a very comprehensive renewable web site!
This is an independent informational site covering solar generated electricity and other related subjects for those interested in learning about renewable energy. Scientific language is kept to a minimum.
Solar In-depth
The discussion in this section ranges from the sun's radiation and energy distributions, to silicon and how solar cells work, the different kinds of solar cells, tyracker panels, central versus micro inverters, and academic research into advanced photocell concepts. We have tried to make this material understandable for a person with no technical background.
Solar Basics
This section presents an overview of solar energy basics in laymen's language without much technical detail. Please click on the title of this paragraph or the "Solar Basics" link at the top of this page. Other topics covered are some facts about the sun, the basics of how solar cells work, solar panels on and off the grid, the growth of solar power by utility companies, and the distribution of solar radiation across the United States.
Solar Markets
The market for solar electricity is growing very rapidly. Estimates of the growth rate and reasons for it are covered. There is a discussion of markets by country and by technology. The US is currently quite far behind other nations in installations but is coming on strong. The US market is broken down by segment - residential, non-residential, and utility.
The Smart Grid
The basics of how the grid works are covered. A definition is provided as to what a "smart grid" is. Some trans-mission and distribution improvements are illustrated as well as grid storage. The grid is very vulnereable to extensive damage from solar storms. A NASA project called "Solar Shield" is reviewed.
In The News
Does Moore's Law Apply To Solar Cells?
The sun strikes every square meter of our planet with more than 1,360 watts of power. Half of that energy is absorbed by the atmosphere or reflected back into space. 700 watts of power, on average, reaches Earth’s surface. Summed across the half of the Earth that the sun is shining on, that is 89 petawatts of power. By com-parison, all of human civilization uses around 15 terrawatts of power, or one six-thousandth as much. In 14 and a half seconds, the sun provides as much energy as humanity uses in a day. Read the Scientific American Article.