Watch Hudu Solar install a roof top solar power system from beginning to end, at Growthpoint’s Lincoln on the Lake building.  This video captures how beautiful sunny South Africa really is the best part of the world to install Photovoltaic panels.  South Africa has the longest hour of sun irradiation and ideal weather conditions in the world, that maximizes the output energy of Suntech Solar Panels.

CASE STUDY

GALLERY

This installation has been heralded as ground-breaking and paradigm shifting. The Lincoln on Lake Rooftop Solar Project was launched on the 15^th of October 2011. Three pioneers of alternative energy use have combined forces in this massive energy-saving pilot project. The project was brought about by a common interest and need for cleaner energy production, overall energy saving as well as reducing on-grid energy requirements.
South Africa’s sunniest city, Durban was chosen as the location for this project to harness the power of solar radiation. It is appropriate that Durban was selected as the location for the project as the project will be featured at the COP17 / CMP7 United Nations Climate Change Conference which will be held in Durban later this month.
GROWTHPOINT PROPERTIES, the property giants, provided the building on
Umhlanga Ridge, on top of which the project is to be undertaken. HUDU, along with solar panel producers SUNTECH have provided the panels and ESKOM shared in the costs as part of a
joint venture for a commercial building photovoltaic installation. HUDU, the Engineered Solar Power
Solution specialists will undertake the entire installation process.

The expected results of the installation are quite staggering. As the largest photovoltaic installation in the Province it represents a potential saving of 44kW’s which is equal to 87,000 kWh per annum. It is expected to achieve a minimum carbon saving of 89,610kg CO² per annum and a Certified Emissions Reduction of 89.61 tCO² per annum. In layman’s terms it is the same as saving nearly 240 trees per year or removing 40 cars from the road each year.  Monitoring of the building’s energy savings will be ongoing.

HUDU’s participation in the project is driven by our objective to provide alternative energy products that are both sustainable as well as in harmony with the environment. We are the ideal partners in this project as we pride ourselves in innovation above all. We also specialise in the supply, design, stallation and maintenance of custom-built, hybrid on- and off-grid solar plants for all applications.
Project Specifications:
The projected energy savings of the Lincoln on Lake Project have already been mentioned above but the scope of the installation warrants further mention.

Kilowatt Roof Top

• The total surface area of the installation is a staggering 298 m².

Kilowatt Roof Top In progress

• 234 Photovoltaic modules were installed.

Lincoln on the Lake building by GrowthPoint Properties

• Monocrystalline SUNTECH photovoltaic modules were used.

HUDU is a nationwide leader in Solar Power. Our superior products and expertise give us the edge when designing alternative energy installations. This has made us the logical choice for this large project as well as other projects around the country. We can work together today to save tomorrow!

Working Together

Saving Tomorrow Today

28 November – 9 December 2011 Durban – South Africa

The eyes and ears of the world turn towards Durban, South Africa, for COP17 / CMP7. The world’s delegates have been invited to attend the 17^th Conference of the Parties (COP 17) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) and the 7^th Session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties (CMP7) to the Kyoto Protocol.

What is COP?

Since the advent of the UNFCC in 1995, the Conference of the Parties (COP) has been meeting annually to assess progress in dealing with climate change.

• The COP adopts decisions and resolutions. Successive decisions taken by the COP constitute a detailed set of rules for practical and effective implementation of the Convention.

What is CMP?

The COP serves as the meeting of the parties to the Kyoto Protocol. This annual meeting is referred to as the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP).

• Parties to the Convention that are not Parties to the Protocol are able to participate in the CMP as observers, without the right to take decisions.

COP / CMP Presidency

The office of the Conference President rotates annually between the five United Nations (UN) regional groups. The African Group will be the next proud host of the Conference with COP 17 / CMP 7 taking place in Durban later this year. The President of COP 17 / CMP 7 is Ms. Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, the South African Minister of Internal Relations and Cooperation. This is indeed a great honour for our nation as a whole as well as for the entire continent.

UN Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC)

In 1992, the UNFCC set an overall framework for intergovernmental efforts to address climate change. It is called a framework convention because it is seen as a starting point of addressing the problem of climate change. The Convention entered into force on 21 March 1994.

The ultimate objective of the Convention is “to stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations at a level that will prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system”.

What is the Kyoto Protocol?

The Kyoto Protocol is an accord linked to the UNFCC. The major feature of the Kyoto Protocol is that it sets binding targets for 37 industrialised countries and the European community for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. These amount to an average of 5 percent against 1990 levels over the five-year period 2008 – 2012.

The major difference between the Protocol and the Convention is that while the Convention encouraged industrialised countries to stabilise GHG emissions, the Protocol commits them to do so.

The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in Kyoto, Japan on the 11^th of December 1997 and entered into force on 16 February 2005.

The road ahead

The Kyoto Protocol is generally seen as an important first step towards a truly global emission reduction regime that will stabilise GHG emissions, and provides the essential architecture for any future international agreement on climate change.

By the end of the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol in 2012, a new international framework needs to have been negotiated and ratified that can deliver the stringent emission reductions the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has clearly indicated are needed.

How is South Africa responding to Climate Change?

The government of South Africa regards climate change as a major threat to sustainable development. Government believes that climate change has the potential to undermine the positive advances made in meeting SA’s own development goals and the Millenium Development Goals. Government is committed to address climate change and has published a White Paper on the National Climate Change Response.

South Africa’s determination to succeed in its plans for sustainable development makes us the perfect host country for COP 17 / CMP 7. We have numerous initiatives in place to ensure that Durban and the rest of the country is geared towards the outcomes stipulated in the Kyoto Protocol as well as those agreed on at COP 16 / CMP 6.

Durban is under pressure to adhere to mitigation requirements imposed by the conference and as such measures have been put in place to ensure that this takes place throughout the conference and further into the future. Hudu is at the forefront of one of these projects.

What is Climate Change?

Climate change is described as a significant and enduring change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may occur as a change in average weather conditions experienced in a specific region  or the distribution of events (e.g. more or fewer extreme weather events) across the whole Earth.

Nowadays the term climate change is also used to refer specifically to changes in climate caused by human activity. When used in conjunction with environmental policy, the term climate change is synonymous with the term anthropogenic global warming. According to scientific journals, global warming refers to an increase in temperature on the Earth’s surface whereas climate change refers to and includes global warming and everything else that an increase in greenhouse gas emissions will affect. The scientific consensus on climate change is “that climate is changing and that these changes are in large part caused by human activities,” and it “is largely irreversible.”

Climate change in South Africa

How will we experience climate change?

HIGH TEMPERATURES: Studies at UCT predict that temperatures will increase over the whole of South Africa due to climate change. January temperatures are expected to increase by 2.5 – 4.5°C in the central interior and Northern Cape, and by 0.5 – 1.0°C at the coast. As well as average temperature increase, the daily maximum temperatures in summer and autumn in the western part of South Africa are likely to increase. That means more extremely hot days.

WATER RESOURCES: Less rainfall or an increase in evaporation (due to higher temperatures) would further strain the already limited amount of water for agriculture, homes and for industry. In general, summer rainfall will decrease by between 5% in the northern regions and 25% in the eastern and southern Cape. The Western Cape may lose as much as 35% of its current winter rainfall. The east of the country is projected to become wetter, but the distribution of rainfall within the rainfall season (summer) will also change, with the rainfall season beginning later and the annual average falling over fewer days with an increase in extreme events (which has implications for the growing season). The west of the country – the winter rainfall region – will become drier.

GRAZING LIVESTOCK: Higher carbon dioxide will lead to less protein in the grass, which will reduce any benefit resulting from increased plant growth. Less rainfall would lead to proportionately less animal production.

BIODIVERSITY: Plants, in particular, have trouble keeping up with rapid climate change. Small populations of plants could go extinct as a result. Within 50 – 100 years, areas that support Succulent Karoo vegetation today will become so dry that only the hardiest plants will be able to survive. A team of health and climate scientists showed that the growing health impacts of climate change affect different regions in strikingly different ways. Ironically, the places that have contributed the least to warming the Earth are the most vulnerable to the effects (such as disease and death) that higher temperatures can bring.

 Figure 1: The Greenhouse Effect ©IPCC

How much does South Africa contribute to climate change?

South Africa’s greenhouse gas emissions are very high.  It is within the top 20 greenhouse gas emitting countries globally.  This means that it emits well above the developing country average – and more than many developed countries.  This is mainly due to our reliance on coal for electricity.

What can I do to stop it?

There are the day-to-day choices we can all make such as wearing your jeans three times before washing them to save water and electricity, changing to low energy light bulbs and not leaving your electric gadgets on standby.  Switching off your geyser during the day and only using cold water in your washing machine. These will all help.

Solar power and its partners in the renewable energy movement are our best chance of limiting our part in climate change.

Even with its rapid growth, solar power still contributes a small portion of our energy needs.

The best thing anyone can do right now is to reduce their dependence on conventional (non-renewable) energy sources and convert to solar power. We will assist you every step of the way as you step forward into a greener sustainable future.

As a proudly South African company our chests were swelling with pride as we follow the progress of two massive developments, the first is an eco-friendly mall in Polokwane and the second, the world’s largest solar power plant. The solar park, although only in the planning phase will be a major improvement to South Africa’s infrastructure as it produces its proposed 5GW of electricity, thereby reducing the need for coal powered energy generation.

With initiatives and developments such as these, the South African government is demonstrating their belief in alternative energy sources as being the key to sustaining and providing for South Africa’s energy requirements into the future.

Limpopo – Mall of the North (http://www.mallofthenorth.co.za/contact.htm)

Mall of the North’s commitment to energy efficiency, sustainability and the implementation of green strategies are evident in the 75 000sqm malls design, construction and future operational practises.

“As a developer, it is crucial to ensure that our future brick and mortar assets are environmentally responsible and as energy efficient as possible”, says Patrick Flanagan of Flanagan & Gerard.

“Research by the International Energy Agency has revealed that by improving energy efficiency in our buildings, industrial processes and transportation alone, we have the potential to reduce the world’s energy needs in 2050 by one third, thus helping to control the global emissions of greenhouse gases.”

The practical application of the green strategies is evident in the architectural design of the building.

“Mall of the North has incorporated careful building measures that have resulted in the reduction of heat loads, maximisation of natural light, the use of environmentally friendly, non-toxic materials and more”, notes Pierre Lahaye of MDS Architecture. “Environmental, social and economic factors have all been taken into account in the implementation of these strategies.”

Location is a key factor in the indirect carbon emissions resulting from the centre. Situated on a main arterial road with close proximity to public transport nodes, the carbon footprint created by shoppers travelling to the centre will be dramatically decreased.

Currently, the use of local labour and materials wherever possible is decreasing emissions during the construction phase. Borehole water is also being used for building purposes, and soil erosion was prevented during the construction of the parking lot.

Mall of the North’s design has incorporated insulation, white roofing, cavity walls and energy efficient glass to help to thermally regulate the building. On the western side of the building, which will receive the harshest rays of sun during the day, shading devices have been installed to cool the building. In the cooler months, the revolving doors at the entrances will ensure that the centre will not experience great amounts of heat loss.

The lifts have been designed to store kinetic energy, which will be used for regeneration in the event of a power failure. Escalators will also have motion sensors, effectively running slower when not in use. Solar geysers, gas systems, natural ventilation systems, metered taps and low flushing mechanisms in bathrooms will all contribute to the expected energy saving.

Indigenous landscaping will be used throughout, leading to the conservation of water. Various aloes that were rescued from the site prior to construction will also be re-planted.

Natural light is another key factor in the design. The region experiences an abundance of natural light and this has been used to its maximum capacity throughout the centre. Furthermore, energy efficient globes with circuit timers and solar and motion sensors will be used liberally. The controlled lighting will also reduce light pollution.

“Mall of the North will be an environment that is welcoming to both shoppers and prospective employees, whilst still being a dynamic location and an iconic fixture in Limpopo’s identity” says Jannie Moolman of the Moolman Group.

Eager tenant participation and willingness in being energy conscious is also a vital denominator. “Each tenant will be allocated a certain amount of power and will be held responsible for any irresponsible use of energy,” adds Johann Kriek of Resilient. “The tenants will be expected to comply with the NERSA requirements and this prerequisite has been welcomed by tenants, in particular the national retailers. This indicates a growing trend in the joint participation between tenant and landlord in being more ‘green’ conscious.”

The entire centre will be monitored by a BMS (Building Management System), which comprises a central network that evaluates energy usage throughout the building.

Mall of the North will bring with it 180 new retail outlets offering exceptional retail, banking and leisure, with anchor tenants including Pick n Pay, Checkers, Edgars, Woolworths and Game, as well as a Ster Kinekor cinema complex.

Information supplied by: MyPolokwane.com

http://www.mypolokwane.com/directory/item/mall-of-the-north-polokwane

The world’s biggest solar power plant

(From theguardian.co.uk)

South Africa is to unveil plans this week for what it claims will be the world’s biggest solar power plant – a radical step in a coal-dependent country where one in six people still lacks electricity.

The project, expected to cost up to 200bn rand (£18.42bn), would aim by the end of its first decade to achieve an annual output of five gigawatts (GW) of electricity – currently one-tenth of South Africa‘s energy needs.

Giant mirrors and solar panels would be spread across the Northern Cape Province, which the government says is among the sunniest 3% of regions in the world with minimal cloud or rain.

The government hopes the solar park will help reduce carbon emissions from Africa’s biggest economy, which is still more than 90% dependent on coal-fired power stations. In April, the World Bank came in for sharp criticism from environmentalists for approving a $3.75bn (£2.37bn) loan to build one of the world’s largest coal-fired power plants in the country.

Energy is already a high priority in South Africa where, at the end of racial apartheid, less than 40% of households had electricity. Over 16 years the governing African National Congress has undertaken a huge national expansion, with a recent survey showing that 83% are now connected, but power outages are still not uncommon in both townships and middle-class suburbs.

An estimated 200 foreign and domestic investors will meet this week in Upington, Northern Cape, with a view to funding the hugely ambitious solar project. A master plan will be set out by the US engineering and construction group Fluor. This follows a viability study by the Clinton Climate Initiative, which described South Africa’s “solar resource” as among the best in the world.

Jonathan de Vries, the project manager, said today: “I’d hate to make a large claim but yes, this would be the biggest solar park in the world.”

De Vries said the park, costing 150-200bn rand, would aim to be contributing to the national grid by the end of 2012. In the initial phase it would produce 1,000 megawatts, or 1GW, using a mix of the latest solar technologies.

An initial 9,000 hectares of state-owned land have been earmarked for the park, with further sites in the “solar corridor” being explored.

De Vries, a special adviser to the energy minister, said the Northern Cape had been chosen for insolation readings (a measure of solar energy) that rank among the highest in the world. “It hardly ever rains, it hardly has clouds. It’s even better than the Sahara desert because it doesn’t have sandstorms.”

The Orange River would provide water for the facilities, he added, while existing power transmission lines would be closer than for similar projects such as in Australia.

Northern Cape, which contains the historic diamond-rush town, Kimberley, is South Africa’s biggest province and one of its poorest. But it is hoped that the park would create a “solar hub” and regenerate the local economy with fresh opportunities in manufacturing.

South Africa currently consumes 45-48GW of power per year. It is estimated this will double over the next 25 years. “In South Africa over 90% of our power comes from the burning of coal and we need to reduce this because of our international obligations on climate change,” de Vries said.

“If this proves to be cost competitive with coal and nuclear, the government will roll out more solar parks. This is a very bold attempt.”

He added: “Solar power isn’t a panacea that will cure all but it’s a part of the solution, and a very important part. There are zones in the world that are ideally suited to it, often those with low population density.”

In this day and age, the world needs to look at the different natural energy sources available to us. There is an international drive towards cleaner, sustainable and renewable energy sources in an attempt to reverse the ill-effects of fossil fuel power generation.

Advantages of wind energy:

• Wind energy is friendly to the environment, as no fossil fuels are burnt in order to generate electricity from wind energy.
• Wind turbines take up less space than the average power station. Windmills only have to occupy a few square meters for the base; this allows the land around the turbine to be used for many purposes, for example agriculture.
• Newer technologies are making the extraction of wind energy much more efficient. The wind is free, and we are able to cash in on this free source of energy.
• Wind turbines are a great resource to generate energy in remote locations, such as mountain communities and isolated communities. Wind turbines come in a range of different sizes in order to support varying population levels and energy requirements.
• Another advantage of wind energy is that when combined with solar electricity, this energy source is great for developed and developing countries to provide a steady, reliable supply of electricity. Wind energy lends itself to off-grid applications due to its reliability.

Disadvantages of wind energy:

• The main disadvantage relating to wind power is the winds unreliability factor. In many areas, the winds strength is too low to support a wind turbine or wind farm, and this is where the use of solar power or geothermal power could be great alternatives.
• Wind turbines generally produce a lot less electricity than the average fossil-fuel power station, requiring multiple wind turbines to be erected in order to make an impact.
• Wind turbine construction can be very expensive.
• The noise pollution from commercial wind turbines is sometimes similar to a small jet engine. This is fine if you live miles away, where you will hardly notice the noise, but what if you live within a few hundred meters of a turbine? This could be a major disadvantage.
• Protests and/or petitions usually confront any proposed wind farm development. People feel that the countryside should be left intact for everyone to enjoy it’s beauty.

For more information you can go to www.cleanenergyideas.com

There will always be a plethora of decisions to be made whenever one investigates the use of an alternative energy source as these decisions have many implications. Make sure you are very well informed before making any decision. Please contact us should have any queries about this article or anything you have seen on our site. {insert link here to contact page}

How Wind Turbines Work

Wind is a form of solar energy. Winds are caused by the uneven heating of the atmosphere by the sun, the irregularities of the earth’s surface, and rotation of the earth. Wind flow patterns are modified by the earth’s terrain, bodies of water, and vegetation. Humans use this wind flow, or motion energy, for many purposes: sailing, flying a kite, and even generating electricity.

The terms wind energy or wind power describes the process by which the wind is used to generate mechanical power or electricity. Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy in the wind into mechanical power. This mechanical power can be used for specific tasks (such as grinding grain or pumping water) or a generator can convert this mechanical power into electricity.

So how do wind turbines make electricity? Simply stated, a wind turbine works the opposite of a fan. Instead of using electricity to make wind, like a fan, wind turbines use wind to make electricity. The wind turns the blades, which spin a shaft, which connects to a generator and makes electricity. Take a look inside a wind turbine to see the various parts. View the wind turbine animation to see how a wind turbine works.

This aerial view of a wind power plant shows how a group of wind turbines can make electricity for the utility grid. The electricity is sent through transmission and distribution lines to homes, businesses, schools, and so on.

GE Wind Energy’s 3.6 megawatt wind turbine is one of the largest prototypes ever erected. Larger wind turbines are more efficient and cost effective.

Types of Wind Turbines

Modern wind turbines fall into two basic groups: the horizontal-axis variety, as shown in the photo, and the vertical-axis design, like the eggbeater-style Darrieus model, named after its French inventor.

Horizontal-axis wind turbines typically either have two or three blades. These three-bladed wind turbines are operated “upwind,” with the blades facing into the wind.

Sizes of Wind Turbines

Utility-scale turbines range in size from 100 kilowatts to as large as several megawatts. Larger turbines are grouped together into wind farms, which provide bulk power to the electrical grid.

Single small turbines, below 100 kilowatts, are used for homes, telecommunications dishes, or water pumping. Small turbines are sometimes used in connection with diesel generators, batteries, and photovoltaic systems. These systems are called hybrid wind systems and are typically used in remote, off-grid locations, where a connection to the utility grid is not available.

Energy 101: Wind Turbines Video

This video explains the basics of how wind turbines operate to produce clean power from an abundant, renewable resource—the wind.

Energy 101 – Wind Turbines from U.S. Department of Energy on Vimeo. See the closed captioned video and the text version.

Inside the Wind Turbine

Inside the wind turbine

How wind power works

Anemometer:

Measures the wind speed and transmits wind speed data to the controller.

Blades:

Most turbines have either two or three blades. Wind blowing over the blades causes the blades to “lift” and rotate.

Brake:

A disc brake, which can be applied mechanically, electrically, or hydraulically to stop the rotor in emergencies.

Controller:

The controller starts up the machine at wind speeds of about 8 to 16 miles per hour (mph) and shuts off the machine at about 55 mph. Turbines do not operate at wind speeds above about 55 mph because they might be damaged by the high winds.

Gear box:

Gears connect the low-speed shaft to the high-speed shaft and increase the rotational speeds from about 30 to 60 rotations per minute (rpm) to about 1000 to 1800 rpm, the rotational speed required by most generators to produce electricity. The gear box is a costly (and heavy) part of the wind turbine and engineers are exploring “direct-drive” generators that operate at lower rotational speeds and don’t need gear boxes.

Generator:

Usually an off-the-shelf induction generator that produces 60-cycle AC electricity.

High-speed shaft:

Drives the generator.

Low-speed shaft:

The rotor turns the low-speed shaft at about 30 to 60 rotations per minute.

Nacelle:

The nacelle sits atop the tower and contains the gear box, low- and high-speed shafts, generator, controller, and brake. Some nacelles are large enough for a helicopter to land on.

Pitch:

Blades are turned, or pitched, out of the wind to control the rotor speed and keep the rotor from turning in winds that are too high or too low to produce electricity.

Rotor:

The blades and the hub together are called the rotor.

Tower:

Towers are made from tubular steel (shown here), concrete, or steel lattice. Because wind speed increases with height, taller towers enable turbines to capture more energy and generate more electricity.

Wind direction:

This is an “upwind” turbine, so-called because it operates facing into the wind. Other turbines are designed to run “downwind,” facing away from the wind.

Wind vane:

Measures wind direction and communicates with the yaw drive to orient the turbine properly with respect to the wind.

Yaw drive:

Upwind turbines face into the wind; the yaw drive is used to keep the rotor facing into the wind as the wind direction changes. Downwind turbines don’t require a yaw drive, the wind blows the rotor downwind.

Yaw motor:

Powers the yaw drive.

Wind versus Solar energy

The great debate: Wind energy or Solar energy?

Both wind power and solar power have been around for a long time now and both renewable energy sources have successfully been used to produce clean electricity for both residential and industrial users. But which renewable energy source is the best for you? Look at the table below and you will soon be able to decide for yourself. For both of these power generation methods ambient conditions must be taken into account and your decision will also be based on your geographic location.

Wind / Solar Energy Output

Does your home have an unobstructed north facing roof space? That’s the ideal location for solar panels, but often an east-west roof with good exposure, or even a ground-mounted system, if you have an unobstructed area, can work just as well.

Solar panels (arrays of photovoltaic cells) make use of renewable energy from the sun, and are a clean and environmentally sound means of collecting solar energy. Learn more about what you can do to protect the environment at Discovery Channel’s Planet Green. Or you can read more… on our website.

Hudu are suppliers of all your solar energy requirements and with this in mind we are proud to offer you a wide range of photovoltaic (PV) solar panels for residential, commercial and industrial use.
We are your premier PV and solar panel suppliers in South Africa and Africa, have an extensive range of products to suit your solar energy needs. This includes, but is not limited to, backup applications; off-grid applications; on-grid applications and grid-interactive applications.

Hudu are the sole distributors of Suntech™ Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Panels in South Africa / Africa.

About Suntech™

Suntech™ considers itself to be a “global solar leader addressing the 21st century’s energy challenge”. Suntech™ develops, manufactures, and delivers the worlds most reliable and cost-effective solar energy solutions. Suntech™ was founded in 2001 by a leading solar scientist Dr. Zhengrong Shi and they are the world’s largest producers of silicon solar modules.
http://ap.suntech-power.com/en/about/about-suntech.html

Hudu offers you a wide range of photovoltaic solar panels as well as inverters for your solar panels, depending on your energy generation needs. Inverters are a very important component of your PV solar panel purchase and installation.

Solar Panel inverters are used primarily to change direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) via an electrical switching process. You can think of inverters used with solar panels as electronically synthesized alternators.

There are three types of solar panel inverters:

1. Stand-Alone Solar Panel Inverters
2. Synchronous Solar Panel Inverters
3. Multi-function Solar Panel Inverters

If you are unsure as to which of these products would best suit your needs and for descriptions of the above-mentioned products (in layman’s terms), please contact us so we can be of assistance to you.

Photovoltaic solar panels (PV Solar Panels) – The technology

Photovoltaics (PV) is a method of generating electrical power by transforming solar radiation into electricity (DC) using semiconductors that exhibit the photovoltaic effect. The photovoltaic effect refers to photons of light knocking electrons into a higher state of energy to create electricity. Photovoltaic power generation uses solar panels made up of a number of cells containing a photovoltaic material. Materials used for photovoltaics include monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, amorphous silicon, cadmium telluride, and copper indium selenide/sulfide. Due to the growing demand for ‘environmentally friendly’ and renewable energy sources, the manufacturing of solar cells and photovoltaic arrays has advanced considerably in recent times. If you would like to find out more about PV solar panel technology go to the following websites: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cells and http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/solar-cell.htm

An interesting statistic about photovoltaic solar power generation:

The EPIA/Greenpeace Advanced Scenario shows that by the year 2030, PV systems could be generating approximately 1.8 TW of electricity around the world. This means that, assuming a serious commitment is made to energy efficiency, enough solar power would be produced globally in twenty-five years’ time to satisfy the electricity needs of almost 14% of the world’s population.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org