|
|
Article: Solar Manufacturing: The Sun Always Rises
- Article from:
- SMT
- Article date:
- January 1, 2009
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright PennWell Corporation Jan/Feb 2009. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
|
It's difficult to see what's really happening in the solar arena these days. For one thing, the language isn't very clear. Basically, solar cells convert sunlight into electricity. When combined into modules and photovoltaic (solar cell) arrays, these devices can be mounted on a fixed angle or can turn to face the sunlight direction during the day. On the other hand, solar cells can be made using thin film semiconductor materials, and can be mounted on roofs as shingles or tiles. Some are designed to operate with concentrated sunlight. These are built into collectors that use a lens to focus sunlight on the cells.
At present, the performance of a solar cell is highly inefficient, ...