Nam 1

Paul Nam

Mrs. Stevens

Life Science

21 February 2020

Can You Make Solar Panels More Efficient?

Introduction

Did you know that the first solar panel plane flight was about 505 days and it flew about

26,000 miles. It weighed 2.4 tons and had about 17,000 solar cells (Taylor). I was wrong in my

hypothesis. I found out that it doesn’t really matter all that much and that is pretty much all the

same, but the results do vary between the different things that are on or off of it. I thought that if

the solar panel is covered with the clear piece of gelatin, then the sunlight would go through the

clear gelatin, hit the solar panel, bounce off the solar panel onto the piece of gelatin, bounce off

the clear piece of gelatin back onto the panel while more solar power goes through.

How Do Solar Panels Absorb Energy?

Solar panels capture photons in photonic cells which creates an electric field and

produces a direct current (DC). They either have one inverter for the whole system or a

microinverter for a single panel. They convert the direct current (DC) into an alternative

current (AC). Solar panels are a collection of photovoltaic(PV) cells. They are usually six

inches by six inches and are the square-ish looking thing on the panel. These are the things

that absorb the energy. They are made up of crystalline silicon that are semiconductors and

make up the cells that absorb the energy. Every year they lose about .8% and with most

warranties of about 25 years, that’s about an 80% efficiency standard (Parkman).

What Are the Negatives of Using Solar Panels?

 Nam 2

The best conversion rate is about 22% with the best tech around. Solar panels use a

lot of space and unlike wind turbines, they cannot share the same land with agriculture so

they are kind of a waste of space. If you try to install solar panels in a place where there is

usually no sun (which I can’t explain why) you wouldn’t get enough power towards your

house. To save the world you must be able to harm it a little. In order to be able to make

solar panels, you must have a factory to make them. It’s better than using Nuclear Power

Plants or Coal power plants to generate electricity. They also are kind of expensive to use

and hold power. For a four bedroom house, the solar panels would cost about $18,500. It

cost about $15,000 to $29,000 to make 4Kw to 8Kw of power. So they are a bit expensive

(Co).

Why Are Solar Panels a Good Way to Make/Get Electricity?

If you get solar panels, not only will they make sure that your solar bill goes down,

you won’t have to pay that much for energy if the prices go up. You will be able to sell your

house quicker and for more money if you have solar panels installed. If you do somehow

manage to make more electricity than needed for your house, then you will be able to save

it and sell it back to the government and make some money on your investment. It also, in

some ways, are able to create jobs for those who need it with solar power becoming

everyone's needs and wants for their houses. Although there are some gasses and bad

emissions in producing solar panels, think about how much coal and nuclear waste we will

save by converting over to the sun for our main source for electricity. And lastly, it boosts

the U.S. by saying that we are independent and don’t need electricity or energy from places

around the world that sells it to us (Go).

How Much Electricity Does a Common Household/Business Use?

 Nam 3

A common U.S. household uses about 10,972 kWh. That is about 914 kWh a month.

Almost $1416 a year. A kWh in the U.S. is about $0.181. The state that uses the most

electricity is Tennessee at about 15,500 kWh, and the lowest is Hawaii at about 6,600 kWh.

The most used appliances that use electricity is the AC unit, fridge, water heater, and the

dryer. The lowest energy needing electrical appliance is actually the washing machine at

about 9kWh. You should also make sure that you turn off these appliances before you leave

and cold drafty windows and also seal leaks (U.S.).

How Efficient Are Solar Panels and What Makes Them Less Efficient?

Most solar panels convert between 11 to 15 percent of what is hitting the solar cells.

The most you could probably get are the ones made by Empire that convert about 24

percent of the power. There are two different types of solar panels, monocrystalline and

polycrystalline. Monocrystalline silicon panels use photovoltaic cells that converts sunlight

into energy. They have one layer of it hence the prefix “mono”. It uses more silicon

therefore it makes it more expensive. It converts more energy than polycrystalline. They

are better for installation on houses. Polycrystalline solar panels use less silicon of multiple

layers and less expensive., they our better for larger projects for multiple acres, not for one

confined space. The monocrystalline makes the same amount of electricity in a smaller

placement than polycrystalline. They are coming out with a new type of solar panel that

can be attached to any kind of preexisting material (wood, bricks) but degrade faster and

are less efficient (Login).

What Are the Differences Between Types of Solar Panels?

There are three different types of solar panels: monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and

thin film amorphous. Monocrystalline is a faster but more expensive type of solar panel. It
 Nam 4

has one layer hence the mono. This is better to use for houses and small businesses.

Polycrystalline has two or more layers hence the poly. It is a cheaper less efficient solar

panel. It is better to use out in large quantities. Thin film Amorphous is a new type of solar

panel that is super thin. Hence, the thin in the name. It can be attached to any kind of

surface. It is a thinner but is less efficient way and not that reliable in the first place. Most of

them have a lifespan of 25+ years. They are all very effective but just have different styles

(Pros).

Conclusion

I thought that if the solar panel is covered with the clear piece of gelatin, then the

sunlight would go through the clear gelatin, hit the solar panel, bounce of the solar panel onto

the piece of gelatin, bounce of the clear piece of gelatin back onto the panel while more solar

power goes through. I found out that I was wrong and that mirrors were the most effeicient. The

control test gave out an average of 7.09 volts, the glass gave out an average of 7.03, the mirror

gave out an average of 7.09 volts, and the plastic wrap gave out an average of 7.02 volts. I found

out that maybe it was the mirrors were a better choice but they would have to be programmable

to follow the sun exactly through its movements. But it is possible, and could save a lot of money

in the long run. They could also be in the ocean as to not waste much space on the land.

Works Cited

Co, About Renewable Resources. “Solar Energy Disadvantages: The Top Drawbacks of Solar

Power.” Renewable Resources Coalition, 15 July 2019,

 Nam 5

www.renewableresourcescoalition.org/solar-energy-disadvantages/.

“Go Solar: Top 10 Benefits of Solar Energy.” EnergySage, www.energysage.com/solar/why-go-

solar/.

Login, Alternate. “IS SOLAR POWER WORTH THE INVESTMENT?” Empire Renewable

Energy, LLC | Subsidiary of EMPIRE SOUTHWEST, LLC, solarbyempire.com/why-

solar/solar-panel-efficiency.

Parkman, Kathryn. “Learn How Solar Panels Convert Sunlight into Usable Electricity.”

ConsumerAffairs, ConsumerAffairs, 22 May 2019, www.consumeraffairs.com/solar-

energy/how-do-solar-panels-work.html.

“Pros and Cons of Monocrystalline vs Polycrystalline Solar Panels.” Solar Reviews, 23 Aug.

2017,www.solarreviews.com/blog/pros-and-cons-of-monocrystalline-vs-polycrystalline-

solar-panels.

Taylor, Alan. “Flying Around the World in a Solar Powered Plane.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media

Company, 26 July 2016, www.theatlantic.com/photo/2016/07/flying-around-the-world-

in-a-solar-powered-plane/493085/.

“U.S. Energy Information Administration - EIA - Independent Statistics and Analysis.” How

Much Electricity Does an American Home Use? - FAQ - U.S. Energy Information

Administration (EIA), www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=97&t.