Solar Panels

Background

Dicovered a site while surfing that looks to be headquartered in the States. Solar Power World has a homepage with basics. The Wikipedia page online has a great discussion about solar panels.

Tonight, 5 May 2019, I saw an online article at American Thinker describing some of the government incentives as well as tax-payer provided subsidies of up to 70% of the costs in providing large-scale solar power. Have not researched what this article calls a "racket" but will look into the information as time passes. Am noting the article in this post so that it does not get lost.

Use

Solar power is the term used when referring to using the sun's ability to produce energy. Kinetic energy is the focus of solar panels. We have developed ways to use sunlight to create heat (i.e.: to heat water) which could produce motion like a waterwheel but this conversion is not efficient. Solar panels are used to produce motion by converting light into DC power which is then converted into AC energy which powers our gadgets as well as produces electrical power.

Manufacture:

There are three types: (1) Monocrystalline and (2) polycrystalline alongside with thin- (3) film amorphous. The first two types are made from crystalline silicon. Apparently, the solar industry is disguising the silicon behind the word semiconductor. Film type is different technologically and much less efficient. They use a lot more roof space and work better than the first two types in poor weather (less than optimal sunlight). Poly type are the most efficient cell-type panels and are high end. Efficiency is rated in the amount of sunlight that is converted to energy. Mono type are less efficient as well as less expensive.

Lifespan

Haven't recorded a source, yet have picked up through reading that the lifespan of solar panels is roughly twenty-five years. And from reading I have learned that there is an ongoing effort to keep legacy solar power production at peak performance.

Disposal

Batteries: Sinovoltaics has a limited discussion of battery disposal. Sinovoltaics sounds Communist Chinese, so I will research further.

Solar Panels: The Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has a FAQ pdf that outlines the hazards of solar panels themselves. Reuter's has an article about the first solar panel recycling plant opening at Rousset,France in Europe which is under the corporate umbrella of Veolia.

Solar Panels: The solarpowerworld site has an article that discusses U.S. solar panel recycling with an American company linked. Civic Solar Dot Com has an online article with some number crunching about U.S. recycling efforts.