what do you think about the photovoltaic method of generating electricity.

At last I finally found someone who actually use it! I am really wondering, the solar cell idea is practically very old and we have gone through a lot of times where we needed it most, and yet so little I think has done with its development. What's the real problem with that tech? ROI takes too long? Maintenance is expensive? or is it really not practical to use it? Thanks in advance Tdemex!

No the tech. is moving along rapidly, they went from silicon which was expensive to a newer material and the panels have dropped in price a lot nearly half! they can put the cells on back packs now and use them to recharge cell phones and Ipods! They are basically maint. free the only thing you have to watch are the batteries! The batteries are still the stumbling block, they are heavy, expensive, give of dangerous gases, and are dangerous in inexperienced hands! The best system I've installed and intend to put in my home is the solar hot water system used in tandem with the cells to drive the pump for the hot water system. Free hot water! Yes! tdemex

I had a hard time locating this topic of ours, it seems harder now than before. Good news about the progress and the reduced prices but I think it is still far from being a common house hold thing, that would really be the day. You sure don't want to waste those sun's juices, good luck with your hot water system. Many thanks Tdemex

The panels them selves are not expensive anymore, it's the hardware you need that goes along with the system that is keeping the costs high! tdemex

Yes, very good point tdemex - the charge controllers and battery banks are expensive. When you consider that the batteries will need replacing every few years there is also an on going cost. Having said that, I have heard of people who's battery banks have lasted over ten years. I understand the key to long battery life is to never let them discharge too deeply.

This is true! The costs are the amount of storage you need to drive the implements you wish to use. The more you consume the more storage you need therefore the batteries are the largest expense! That being said there is not a sufficient demand for the items like AC units, refrigerators, washers and dryers! To lower the costs you need these mass produced at a high rate with 24volt systems that would be a major breakthrough! tdemex

i think if you know some high level electrical and electronic technology you can effectively use the solar panels. but like other mechanical items, you must always have the spare parts available in case any component fails. if a layman or uneducated non-engineering person uses the solar panels, he will be forced to drop the entire project in a few months.one must be aware of components like transformer and converters using scr and igbt.

I do like the old solar cells, and they are getting better, slowly.
Broadband or multispectral cells have come along. These make use of multiple frequencies of available light instead of a narrow band of energy wasting the rest of it. This means more energy for the same amount of light.
Also, please note, no-one, and I mean no-one, is actually thinking hard enough to utilise what we already do have.
A modification of the way solar cells are mounted, would give quite an increase in current from already existing installations.
What am I talking about.
Solar cells have two sides, due to mounting directly against a support panel, only one side ever sees any light.
If solar cells were mounted say 10 cm above a white support panel, sunlight reflected off from the white support panel illuminates the back of the cell, creating more current.

Why only use one side, when every cell has two sides capable of producing power.

Is it only the slight mounting obstacle that dictates how much we waste, a small problem never tackled, I think.

Can anyone answer that, Am I missing something.