Solar panels hold great promise for reducing our dependence on fossil fuel.
While there aren’t two experts that agree on what the world’s total fossil fuel reserves might be, one thing they’re sure about is we are definitely using it up!
For some time now, scientists and engineers have been focused on the development of alternative energy, with an emphasis on sources that are renewable, efficient and of course affordable. One of the most promising sources for alternative energy is the sun.
Every two weeks, the sun’s rays falling on the earth delivers the equivalent of the fossil energy stored in all of the earth’s known coal, oil and natural gas reserves! The challenge is harnessing it by developing technologies that dramatically reduce our dependence on non-renewable fossil fuel resources.
From the very beginning, copper has been a key component in efforts to harness solar energy, and continues to be a bright spot of encouragement in the development of these solar renewable energy systems. Back in 1927, a copper-copper oxide metal-semiconductor junction solar cell was first demonstrated, but these early solar cells had very low energy conversion efficiencies. Today, researchers are investigating a copper semiconductor called copper indium selenide, which has demonstrated some success in solar cell applications and shows promise for the future. Another copper compound being investigated is cuprous sulfide.
The single most expensive consumer of electricity in our homes is the hot water heater, so if you can reduce the amount of electricity used in this one area it can be a significant savings. Solar collection systems made with copper, and its alloys brass and bronze are being installed in many parts of the world to provide heat and hot water for homes and businesses. For people living in the Sun Belt, solar heaters can provide up to 91% of a user’s annual hot water requirements. Further away from the equator, in more temperate climates, the percentage drops, but is still a significant portion when you consider the savings of over 40%.
Also, in hot climates, solar water heating systems can also be used to heat swimming pools. Solar panels made of copper are the key component in these energy collection systems. Since copper doesn’t degrade from UV radiation or develop pinholes or flexural stresses that lead to system leakage, copper solar panels often last a lifetime.
Copper’s many positive attributes continue to play an important role in our daily lives, often without our being aware of its importance or presence. You need copper? quickshipMetals.com
