Age is relative, so the answer to the question is really up to you. Here I will share a little history about solar power.

The photovoltaic, (solar electric), process was discovered in the late 1800s and the creation of some primitive solar cells followed. In 1921 Albert Einstein received the Nobel Prize in physics for his work on the photoelectric effect. Russell Ohl patented the modern junction semiconductor solar cell in 1946 and by the 1950s the first true solar photovoltaic panels were at work. This makes solar panels for generating electricity about 60 years old.

There have been a few flavors of solar panels, monocrystalline and polycrystalline being the two most common right now. The monocrystalline typically has the highest output per surface area while the polycrystalline trails behind a few percent. The difference in production cost makes polycrystalline a better value in cases where lots of space is not an issue.

Some common abbreviations and terms you hear when talking about solar power are described below:

KW = Kilowatt (1000 watts)
kWh = Kilowatt hour (1000 watts for an hour)
MW = Megawatt (1000 Kilowatts)
PV = Photovoltaic (turns photons into voltage - electricity)
DC = Direct Current (like the battery in a flashlight or phone)
AC = Alternating Current (like the walls of your home)
Inverter = Device that takes DC and converts it to AC
Watt = Measure of energy or work
Insolation = measure of energy in sunlight at a specific spot
Shade Structure = Like a big patio cover, but with solar panels
Array = a group of solar panels working together

In Concord CA, our average insolation is 1430 hours per year. This means if you want to install solar for your home in Concord CA, a 1000 watt panel will make 1430 kWh per year.

As this information could go on for quite a while, I will stop here with what I feel is most relevant for the moment. :)

Wikipedia has a lot of good information too.

In California, there are 4 school districts starting a test program for electronic text books. I have written about and talked about this before. However, the rather expensive iPad has been chosen by the guys on the hill as a pilot device for this study.

In my own plan, the kids would be issued something more like a Kindle $300 or less and allows note taking and all the qualities of an actual textbook as well. The plan would include assigning the device to kids in 1st grade and it is theirs for the duration of their education in the district. If they leave the district the device stays, and if they graduate high school in the district, they keep the device. That was my plan.

The CA board of education feels the iPad is a good answer for this same problem. The addition of full color and video help is definitely understandable. My fear is that the device may lend itself to many other uses and will not be given the respect of a textbook. I feel that perception can also be very important when teaching or learning. A device capable of video games and other entertainment may spend too much time doing those things in the hands of immature users, our target audience.

The following is from the article:

Education firm Houghton Mifflin Harcourt has teamed up with California Secretary of Education Bonnie Reiss for the pilot, which will take place at Long Beach Unified School District, Riverside Unified School District, Fresno Unified School District and San Francisco Unified School District.

"This is a seminal moment. It marks the fundamental shift from print delivery of curriculum to digital," said John Sipe, vice president of K-12 sales at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Students randomly selected for the program will receive iPads loaded with digital versions of their textbooks for the coming school year. Their progress will be tracked and compared against that of their classmates using traditional textbooks to determine the potential benefit of a switch to digital technology.

Students with iPads will have instant access to more than 400 videos from teaching experts walking them through the concepts and assignments, rather than having to rely on the teacher's explanation in class. There is also a homework coach and animated instructions on how to complete assignments.
______________________

To read the whole article, follow the related link below.

Associate Professor Michael Strano (left) with graduate student Ardemis Boghossian and postdoctoral fellow Moon-Ho Ham, in one of the labs where they and their team developed the self-repairing PV technology (Image: Patrick Gillooly)

It has been a while since my last post. I have been busy with site walks, vacation (needed), and communications regarding the district solar project. The pace will pick up again very soon. We are now in the process of evaluating the proposals set forth by the participants.

On the same subject, solar power, there has been some technology news. In the above photo you can see the people directly involved with a breakthrough that may someday change solar power for everyone. Self repairing solar panels may become a reality thanks to their hard work.

A very significant problem with solar panels is the breakdown of the material over time. As panels age, they simply don't work as well. If the material were to "self repair" the efficiency would theoretically be the same forever.

Another big step will be self cleaning features. Solar panels produce the most when the light can hit them directly. If there is a layer of dust, the production drops significantly. Large installations like the one we will be installing will have a cleaning and maintenance contract built in to the cost and return on investment model.

For more information on the new breakthrough, follow the related link below.

A company called Clarian Power has a product in development called "Sunfish Plug-In Solar Power". The product will have several models, ranging from 200 watts at about $700 to $4000 for a 1000 watt unit. From their website:

-----------------------
The Sunfish plugs directly into an existing electrical outlet and automatically generates power whenever the sun is shining. The Sunfish can be mounted directly on the side of a home, on a deck, or on a rooftop and is modular, allowing you to generate up to 1kW of hassle-free power. And, it can generate up to 30 kWh per month, enough to light an average home using energy efficient light bulbs. Expected to cost between $599 and $799, the Sunfish is a cost-effective option for homeowners and small business owners looking to harness solar power for the first time. Working in tandem with the existing power grid, the Sunfish enables large-scale distributed-generation, delivering power exactly where it's needed, reducing the demand for costly transmission infrastructure. With built-in circuit protection, the Sunfish's unique micro-inverter design ensures years of safe, reliable operation with efficiency comparable to inverters that cost thousands of dollars more. And by mounting the micro-inverter directly to solar panel, the Sunfish reduces line loses and increases output by as much as 10%! Also, by pairing each solar module with a micro-inverter the Sunfish is able to individually optimize the power output of each panel. And the Sunfish can be plugged directly into the existing power grid without special wiring or expensive controls - you literally just plug it into the wall, anywhere there's power. Plus, the anti-islanding features inherent in its design protects local utility workers in the event of a power outage - if the grid shuts down, the Sunfish immediately stops generating power, again without the need for any special wiring or controls. And with onboard networking and optional backup storage, the Sunfish also allow customers to track and monitor production online.
-----------------------

Follow the related link below to visit their website.

In California, we are used to being trendsetters with energy. However, it isn't often that a community or small scale energy project gets a national spotlight, even for a moment. Right now, the Richmond Plunge is having it's moment. After a 10 year renovation, adding Solar Electric, Solar Thermal and a chlorine free water processing system, the pool is beautiful and sets a new standard for a community.

The solar panels for electricity are expected to produce 30 kilowatts while the solar thermal should maintain a comfortable water temperature.

The water is kept clean and safe with a saline process that also incorporates ultraviolet light to kill bacteria. No chlorine means no harsh chemicals on the skin or in swimmers eyes. The lack of chlorine should also help guest breath a bit easier when they are out of the water.

You can click the image above for a larger view.