Once upon a time, solar panels were reserved for space shuttles and satellites; now, they seem to be everywhere. Last year, the drive toward renewable energy gathered pace, and consumer interest in solar power increased exponentially. A number of noteworthy breakthroughs in solar technology occurred, expanding the power-production potential significantly.
Solar power installations took off in a big way in 2013. In California, construction began on the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System, which will begin producing energy later this year. Once it is fully operational, the plant will become the largest solar installation in the world, sending electricity out from its Mojave Desert location to homes across the Golden State.
New photovoltaic cell designs also emerged in 2013. Researchers at Sweden's University of Lund published an innovative nanowire cell design in the January 2013 edition of "Science." Instead of constructing the cell bases from silicon sheets, Lund scientists created indium phosphide nanowire beds, which produced electricity at a rate comparable with traditional solar cells.
Solar power cells aren't the only energy harvesting devices basking in the sun. Several other inventions designed to harness the sun's energy set the world of science aglow in 2013. One particularly interesting idea, which generated considerable media attention in 2012, is the atmospheric vortex engine concept.
In March 2013, scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology unveiled a system called the solar vortex. The setup utilizes metal sheets, which are placed on the ground, and a turbine, which is positioned roughly a meter above the sheets. In a nutshell, the metal sheets become hot in the sun, warming the air around them in the process. Hot air rises and cold air falls to replace the hot air, creating an updraft, which causes the turbine to spin.
Its inventors assert that the solar vortex system is cheaper to build and maintain than a wind turbine. Initial data indicates that electricity produced by the design will cost 20 percent less than wind power and 65 percent less than solar power. Some ecologists have speculated that because of its compact size, a solar vortex farm may also pose less of a danger to birds than a similarly sized wind farm.
In general, solar updraft designs currently have less energy creation potential than the newest solar power cells. However, they take up less space, making them a viable alternative to traditional solar power plants, particularly in crowded locations. In the future, solar updraft technology will likely become more efficient, making it a true contender in the utilities industry.
In other 2013 solar-power-related news, researchers at the University of North Carolina developed a system to store solar power for nighttime use. Scientists at the university's Energy Frontier Research Center used chemistry as the basis for their setup, which uses solar power gathered during the day to split water into its constituent elements, hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen is then stored as fuel for use at night.
Overall, 2013 was a dream come true for solar power enthusiasts. Brand new photovoltaic cell designs made it easier than ever to gather the sun's rays in an efficient manner and large corporations began using solar power to fulfill their energy needs. Meanwhile, the utilities industry continues to invest in solar power projects, laying the foundation for future success.
(Photo courtesy of Freedigitalphotos.net)
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