PV Gap

Terrance Said:

What is the chemical process that takes place in a solar panel?

We Answered:

Nothing chemical at all - solid state physics at the quantum level - photon of light knock electrons off silicon which are freed to form an electrical circuit that we can use as power.
Because nearly pure silicon is required, there is no way you can build one of these at home.
Heating solar panels are not chemical either - just physical.

Kim Said:

A thought on home energy....?

We Answered:

This is a really good idea but would need to be subsidised in the US at present because your oil and gas costs are relatively low.

The problem is that your Government allows these fossil resources to be taken from the earth for almost nothing so that the extractors can simply charge the cost of extraction and distribution plus profit. This takes no account of the cost of replacing the oil and gas when it runs short. Governments should be taxing these supplies at the cost of replacing them with solar panels and then the manufacturers of solar panels would be competing on a level playing field. Until then we need subsidised solar panels or we will use up all the cheaply available oil and gas, leaving our children with none. Subsidised panels will also be fairer than taxing fuel needed by rich and poor alike.

Some people will argue that there is no need for subsidies because, as the cheap oil and gas runs out, solar panels will be able to compete naturally. But the economic adjustments that will then be required will be so severe that they will lead to world wide recession, wars and social upheaval. It is far better to make the adjustments more gradually by anticipating the need, rather than run full speed into the stone wall.

Your question about the reliability and life of solar panels is a good one because they have been prone to failure after a few years. But they are far more reliable now and many of the past problems were caused by somewhat amateur retro-fitting rather than the sort of professional designed in scheme you have in mind.

I hope this idea takes off. The US needs some dramatic initiatives to improve its green image.

Best wishes

Walter Said:

Build a solar or wind propelled generator?

We Answered:

well i dont know much but i hope this will help, i whould imagine for the wind power you whould need the light propeler to be somehow conected to a magnetic generater. and for the solar power, well i dont know much about that but i hope to find out soon.