The discovery of Photovoltaic (PV) cells, the cells that power solar power, dates as far as the 1800s. It all began when a nineteen-year old French scientist, Edmond Becquerel was experimenting with an electrolytic cell composed of two metal electrodes. He discovered that the materials would emit amounts of energy when exposed to light. This observation was the birth of the PV effect. 1839 – Edmond Becquerel discovers PV effect. 1883 – An American inventor, Charles Fritts develops the first PV cell by putting selenium on a metal plate. 1877 – William Adams and Richard Day, both American scientists, publish “The action of light on selenium.” 1888 – An American chemist, Edward Weston receives the first US Patent for Solar Cell. 1888 to 1891 – Aleksandr Stoletov develops the first solar cell using the outer photoelectric effect. 1900’s: 1901 – Nikola Tesla receives two patents for his radiant energy studies (1) Method of utilizing radiant energy; (2) Apparatus for the utilization of radiant energy. 1904 – Wilhelm Hallwachs develops a semiconductor-junction solar cell. 1905 – Albert Einstein’s theory of “photoelectric effect.” 1916 – Robert Millikan supports Einstein’s theory by providing proof. 1922 – Einstein receives Nobel Prize for his photoelectric effect theory. 1932 – Stora and Audobert discovers a photovoltaic material, Cadmium Selenide. 1950’s: 1954 – An American research company, Bell Labs, showcases first high-power silicon PV cell that has about 6 percent of efficiency. 1955 – Western Electric begins commercialization of silicon PV system design technologies. 1958 – US Vanguard I, the first solar-driven space satellite was launched; The U.S. Signal Corps Laboratories develops a radiation resistant solar...
National Forest Products Week is observed every third week of October. The week is devoted to the recognition and importance of the different products coming from our forests, the people who manage and work our forests, and the different businesses that utilize forest products to improve our lives. The celebration also focuses on the role of forests and forest resources in contributing to the quest for renewable energy, especially biomass. Energy Source To generate energy that powers our homes, industries, and means of transportation, we burn fossil fuels – such as oil, gas, and coal – that produce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. People tend to blame the millions of cars on the road as the main producer of greenhouse gases but the fact is that greenhouse gases from energy consumption at home are just as bad. It is estimated that an average household creates six tons of carbon dioxide each year. Renewable Energy Renewable energy refers to energy that is generated from natural resources that are renewable or continuously replenished, such as sun, wind, water, tides, geothermal heat, and various types of biomass. These energy sources are constantly renewed and cannot be exhausted, relatively speaking. Renewable energy sources are now popularly taking over traditional fossil fuels because they minimize carbon dioxide emissions and society is embracing doing their part to protect Mother Nature. Renewable Sources of Energy Some of the more popular renewable energy sources are the following: Biomass – This refers to organic materials that are converted into other forms of energy such as the clean burning biofuels that are produced through biological processes like anaerobic...
For the past century, the world has relied mainly on fossil fuels as its primary source of energy. The problem is that we have also proven that the use of fossil fuels is affecting the ozone layer of our atmosphere. After years of speculation, there is now no doubt that global warming is real. Because of a hole in the ozone layer, we have decreased protection from the rays of the sun. As an effect, we are experiencing continued increase of global temperatures. Because of this, various national organizations are calling to use renewable energy to drive to use clean technologies to decrease the impact of global warming. The most explored kind of renewable energy is solar energy. From the name itself, solar energy is collected from the sun’s ray using photovoltaic modules in a solar panel. Installations of large amounts of solar panels can significantly increase the efficiency of its use. Nowadays, more and more countries are making the effort to shift to solar energy. Despite its initial cost, the payback of solar energy is significantly greater than using fossil fuels. Some of the countries that have increased solar installation and production include China, Japan, and Italy. But among all of the countries in the world, Germany is the most solar efficient country. One of the reasons why Germany has been the forerunner in solar energy is because of the mandatory codes implemented by the government to reduce non-renewable energy consumption by as much as 20 percent. Germany believes that the best kind of energy is the one you do not have to produce, which is how solar...
National Aviation Day is celebrated annually on August 19th. The day celebrates the developments and history of aviation. August 19th is also the birthday of Orville Wright, who is one of the key figures who contributed to the possibilities of flight. Since the first invention of the airplane, our ability to fly has improved significantly due to advancing technologies. Ironically, the advancements we now have are also the main reasons causing major problems to our environment. There is never ending consumption of fossil fuels, which are used as a primary source of energy for fueling airplanes. The use of fossil fuels is tied to global warming, a major concern of recent decades. Because of environment concerns, there is a call to action from groups and environmental advocates to shift our energy sources to renewable energy. One of the forerunners in renewable energy is solar energy. Various groups are researching on how we can utilize solar energy just like the creators of Solar Impulse. Solar Impulse is one of the first solar-powered aircraft. It is privately funded by Andre Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard, who are also famous for being the first to travel non-stop around the world in a balloon. The aim of Solar Impulse is to circumnavigate the Earth successfully using a piloted aircraft powered by solar energy only. The movement behind Solar Impulse also aims to promote clean technologies especially with the environmental concerns our world is facing today. The plane features photovoltaic cells as the primary source of energy. The first prototype named Solar Impulse I was made to stay airborne for as long as 36 hours....
In our world today, we are using a lot of energy to support technological advancements. The downside is that our non-renewable energy sources such as oil, coal, and fuel are continuously depleting. Because of this, there is an urgent need for us to find other energy sources. This is the reason why renewable sources are being studied intensively nowadays. Among the renewable energies most sought after is solar energy. Using solar panels which consist of photovoltaic modules, the sun’s energy is converted into usable energy. A standard solar panel can produce about 200 watts of electricity. The efficiency can also vary depending on the size of the panel used. A set of 25 panels can produce about 5-kilowatt hours. Since the first introduction of solar panels, their effectiveness improves year after year. The price of each solar panel also decreased in the past years. Because of this, more people are pushing the use of solar energy as a primary source of energy. One example of how successful a solar panel can be is the islands of Tokelau in the South Pacific. It is a small island with estimated population of 1,500 and is made up of three atolls. Tokelau Island is the first island in the world that is 100 percent powered by solar energy. It has held this title since 2012. The secluded location of the island resulted in difficulty in getting energy as a power use. Before solar energy, they were using three diesel-driven power stations and were burning as much as 200 liters of diesel per day costing about $800,000 per year. Now, they have a...
