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 Solar PanelsSolar panels are typically used to power the home. However, they are also used to power things like calculators, telephones, and battery packs. Many of the newest innovations in solar panels is that they are thin and flexible. They can be put into all kinds of products like clothing and backpacks. One trend, in solar panels, is that many people are getting small portable panels. People can then set the panels up to power a wide variety of appliances including laptops, mp3 players, and cell phones. Many of us need a small portable power source and small solar panels are now making that happen. In addition, the thin film solar panels are making it possible to integrate solar panels into just about any product.In the past, solar panels were typically of monocrystalline, polycrystalline, or amorphous. The monocrystalline panels were the best, but very expensive. To replace that, companies came up with a polycrystalline solar panel that was less pure, less effective, and much less expensive. Still, the polycrystalline solar panels were a better purchase, dollar for dollar, even with the imperfections. To power a home, polycrystalline solar panels are still the solar panels of choice. Amorphous solar panels are the thin style solar panels that are integrated into plastics and electronics. For example, a solar calculator would use an amorphous solar panel. Today, most of the innovations, in solar, are in thin film solar technologies. The old style amorphous thin film solar panels could only power something that didn't require much power. With the new thin film solar panels that is going to change. Companies are now using nanotechnology to create special inks and dyes that can print a solar panel onto just about anything, but thin film plastic is the most popular. The efficiency rates are going crazy. Covalent solar, from MIT claims that they can get a 40% conversion rate. That rate is double that of the best solar panels on the market. In addition, Nanosolar is expecting to come out with very cheap solar panels that can be put onto just about anything and the conversion rates are similar to the polycrystalline solar panels of today. There are many innovations taking place in solar are great for your home. Many scientists predict that the technology will double every three years, similar to computers. If that happens, solar will be the dominant energy player in twenty years.
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