Flexible Solar Panel
Flexible Solar Panel
Also known as ‘thin-film’ solar panels, flexible solar panels are becoming the new norm in residential solar power systems. These panels are more economical and durable than their predecessors, and have the added advantage of increase portability, making them great for movers and shakers.
In previous solar panel models, manufacturers had to grow large silicon crystals so they could slice them into thin wafers. Growing such large crystals takes and costs a lot. New thin-film technology has changed this process as it takes vaporized silicon and sprays it on in layers. This process uses much less silicon than the wafer panels, and it means that the silicon doesn’t need to be protected as much as the wafers do.
This makes for a very thin, lightweight panel that can go just about anywhere. It doesn’t need as much casing or protective glass so it is very flexible and can conform to the contours of the surface it is placed on, such as the roof of a car or mobile home, RV or a home. Best of all, it is significantly cheaper to produce and therefore is cheaper for the consumer to purchase.
There are other types of flexible solar panels that use different materials, but all operate on the same concept, using thin layers of material to collect the sun’s light and use it to create an electrical current. In time these panels will become affordable enough that anyone can have as many of them as they need to power their homes.
Possibly the only downside of flexible solar panels is that they just aren’t as efficient as the wafer-silicon models. Residential standard silicon panels have efficiency rates of 25% or more, while flexible silicon panels can only reach about 20%. However, since the cost of flexible solar panels is so much less, it is definitely still more affordable to go with a flexible solar panel system and make up for the lack of efficiency by adding a few panels.
While your primary place of residence should be a priority when converting to solar power, with flexible solar panels you can also consider other locations where you consume power. In your car a flexible solar panel can be placed in a window and can be used to power an mp3 player or recharge your cell phone. This takes the burden off of your vehicle to create excess energy, for which it uses gasoline.
Anywhere you travel can be an opportunity to use solar power as well. Flexible solar panels are easy to transport, so they can come with you when you and your family travel to your cabin, go camping or rv-ing. Just put it out in a sunny location and you can use it to recharge flashlight batteries, run a laptop or dvd player and even give you a regular amount of light.
There is really no limit to what you can achieve with a flexible solar panel, and they are well worth the cost as they will provide you with free electricity for years to come.
