![\"sun_catcher\"](\"https:\/\/stormeffect.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/06\/sun_catcher-1024x711.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSolar power has seen a resurgence in research, and being my favorite power generation method, I’ve been following it closely. A basic (photovoltaic) solar power array is made up of several silicon solar panels that convert photons directly into electricity. The quality of a solar cell is usually based upon its efficiency, which measures how much absorbed sunlight is converted into electricity. Traditional solar cells have an efficiency of 12% to 18% and are fairly expensive. A residential solar installation might cost about 6 dollars per watt. The advantage is, after the installation is complete, every drop of energy from the system is free, possibly eliminating power bills forever. In some states, power companies pay customers for excess energy fed back into the grid. One caveat, during the night power must come either from batteries used to store excess energy during the day, or from the local power grid. In order to make solar a more viable alternative form of energy, efficiencies need to go up and cost needs to go down.<\/p>\n
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Thankfully, there have been a plethora of recent developments in solar technology:<\/p>\n
Solar cells shaped like Popcorn balls and made of pigment zinc oxide grains <\/span><\/span>show a 6.2% efficiency, continued progress could render traditional solar cells obsolete. Link<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Extremely cheap nanowires may soon match traditional solar cell efficiencies, combining power with much more affordable production costs. Link<\/a><\/p>\n Printable solar panels dramatically reduce costs using the technology in your inkjet printer. They also allow solar cells to be produced outside a clean room environment and on virtually any surface. Link<\/a><\/p>\n Extensive solar arrays (280 megawatts) are going up in Arizona by 2011. Link<\/a><\/p>\n