DOE Shines $14M on Solar Energy Research

coondoggie writes "Eleven university solar research projects aimed at developing advanced solar photovoltaic (PV) technology manufacturing processes and products got a $14 million boost today from the Dept. of Energy. Photovoltaic-based solar cells convert sunlight directly into electricity, and are made of semiconductor materials similar to those used in computer chips. When sunlight is absorbed by these materials, the solar energy knocks electrons loose from their atoms, allowing the electrons to flow through the material to produce electricity."

Comments

Where do the electrons go?

[BadAnalogyGuy]

When the solar energy knocks those electrons loose, they travel out into the power grid, but unless there is some way to replenish those electrons, we're looking at a dwindling amount of electrons in the substrate. Normally, the additional electrons would be supplied via an electron-rich compound such as water or liquid mercury, but these advanced solar panels are turning solar energy directly into electrical energy, so there can't possibly be any extra electron replenishment without significant reduction in energy production. The alternative, of course, is to let Nature fill in those lost electrons at night when electron activity is at its highest (due to an abundance of free electrons caused by lowered grid electricity usage).

I'm interested in seeing how these researchers are able to de-ionize the silicon gel platters and create extra-electronned wafers that stand up to both the harsh elements as well as the long environmental electron replenishment mechanisms.

Solved --- Re:Where do the electrons go?

[Dr. Hok]

This issue was solved long ago:

$ fortune -m "electron buildup"

Electricity is actually made up of extremely tiny particles, called electrons, that you cannot see with the naked eye unless you have been drinking. Electrons travel at the speed of light, which in most American homes is 110 volts per hour. This is very fast. In the time it has taken you to read this sentence so far, an electron could have traveled all the way from San Francisco to Hackensack, New Jersey, although God alone knows why it would want to.
The five main kinds of electricity are alternating current, direct current, lightning, static, and European. Most American homes have alternating current, which means that the electricity goes in one direction for a while, then goes in the other direction. This prevents harmful electron buildup in the wires.
-- Dave Barry, "The Taming of the Screw"

Re:Wow, and we can for over 300 billion for a war

[xippie]

And the war is for OIL control.

Re:Stable energy sources

[neomunk]

Lesee.... It's clean because if you stand a mile or so from the materials used you won't notice any negative effects. And... (this one's harder) umm... oh, it's renewable in the sense that if we get hit with a stellar core fragment from some supernova somewhere it will renew our supply of fuel...(?)

Yeah, that's the ticket. :-D

Re:This has to be good news

[Anonymous Coward]

assuming current-day superconductors which require liquid nitrogen for cooling Yeah - But where do you think you're going to get all of that nitrogen? Out of thin air? =)