Saturday, January 31, 2009
What are Thin Film Solar Panels
Thin film solar panels are a newer, thinner type of solar panel that has the potential to make
solar energy much more affordable. They rely on the same photovoltaic process that "thick" solar
panels use. Put simply, the PV cell contains semiconductor material. Sunlight passes through and
interacts with the semiconductor material, and creates an electric current. This electricity can be
used immediately to power appliances in your home or business, or stored in batteries for later
use.
So what's so great about thin film solar panels? Well, thick solar panels (the first generation of
solar panels, and the ones you are used to seeing), traditionally use crystalline silicon for the
semiconductor material. It works as a way to create electricity from sunlight, but it's
labor-intensive to manufacture. Each cell has to be produced on an individual silicon wafer, one by
one, which makes it expensive. This is the main reason that solar panels have not been widely
affordable in the past.
But thin film solar panels use materials for their semiconductors that are much thinner than
crystalline silicon. The "thin film" semiconductors can be mass produced using automated systems
and cheaper materials. At this point, the process is almost 3 times less labor-intensive than the
process for manufacturing the traditional crystalline silicon thick cell solar panels. So the cost
to manufacture solar panels is coming down. This means it will be cheaper for new start-up
businesses to enter the solar panel manufacturing market. And as more businesses produce and supply
solar panels, prices will drop even further.
The "thin film" process also means that the solar cell is smaller, lighter weight, and can be
applied to materials that are smaller, lighter weight and more flexible themselves. In fact, "thin
film" technology has changed the look of solar panels so much that you might not recognize them.
Instead of needing a heavy and elaborate steel structure to hold a large array of thick
silicon-based solar panels in place, the thin film solar panels can be integrated into the roof or
wall itself.
Thin film composition roofing shingles and thin film panels for metal roofing are already
commercially available and being used in construction. Smaller portable solar panel systems are
being manufactured to power up your electronic devices. Cell phones, GPS devices, MP3 players and
even televisions and laptops can now be powered with thin film solar technology. These portable
thin film solar panels are small enough and light weight enough that you can "install" one on your
backpack or carry one in your purse. And just like digital watches, which cost hundreds of dollars
only a few decades ago, it won't be long before the price of solar panels will be so low that we'll
be buying them with our pocket change at the corner convenience store.
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