Changes

Home solar panels are often mounted on rooftops. Commercial or industrial installations are often on trackers mounted on the ground. The trackers point the panel towards the sun as the sun moves across the sky. Photovoltaic panels are also commonly used in [[outer space]], where they are one of the few power sources available.

Home solar panels are often mounted on rooftops. Commercial or industrial installations are often on trackers mounted on the ground. The trackers point the panel towards the sun as the sun moves across the sky. Photovoltaic panels are also commonly used in [[outer space]], where they are one of the few power sources available.

== Heat ==

== Heat ==

Solar panels for heat are usually made from a box with a clear window on top. Pipes run through the box. The pipes and the box are usually painted black because black absorbs more heat than other colors. The pipes are filled with a heat transfer fluid such as water or oil. A pump circulates the fluid, which heats up as it is exposed to the sun. When the hot fluid leaves the panel, it goes into a heat exchanger, which transfers the heat into water or air. After the now cool fluid leaves the heat exchanger, it is pumped back up into the panel to collect heat again.

Solar panels for heat are usually made from a box with a clear window on top. Pipes run through the box. The pipes and the box are usually painted black because black absorbs more heat than other colors. The pipes are filled with a heat transfer fluid such as water or oil. A pump circulates the fluid, which heats up as it is exposed to the sun. When the hot fluid leaves the panel, it goes into a heat exchanger, which transfers the heat into water or air. After the now cool fluid leaves the heat exchanger, it is pumped back up into the panel to collect heat again.

== Recycling ==

== Recycling ==

Photovoltaic solar panels are built to last about thirty years.  So far, most of the solar panels, originally created in the 1980's have not yet reached the end of their estimated lifespans. Many of the solar panels which have expired, however, have been classified as hazardous waste. The used solar panels that have not been considered dangerous can be recycled to create new solar panels.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Solar Panel Recycling|url=http://werecyclesolar.com/recycle/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-05|website=We Recycle Solar|language=en-US}}</ref> Over 90% of the solar panel is recyclable to create either new solar panels or scrap material. First, the panels are broken down by removing the metal frames and glass plate, leaving the group of [[solar cell]] sandwiched between an [[:en:Ethylene-vinyl_acetate|ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)]] resin and back film. To actually get to the solar cells themselves, the resin and backing must be removed. <ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.seia.org/policy/environment/pv-recycling |title= PV Recycling |work= |publisher= SEIA |accessdate= May 7, 2015}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web |url= http://2011.solarteam.org/news/recycling-methods-for-used-photovoltaic-panels |title= Recycling Methods for Used Photovoltaic Panels |author= Nick Weadock |date= September 1, 2011 |work= |publisher= Watershed |accessdate=May 7, 2015}}</ref>

Photovoltaic solar panels are built to last about thirty years.  So far, most of the solar panels, originally created in the 1980's have not yet reached the end of their estimated lifespans. Many of the solar panels which have expired, however, have been classified as hazardous waste. The used solar panels that have not been considered dangerous can be recycled to create new solar panels.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Solar Panel Recycling|url=http://werecyclesolar.com/recycle/|access-date=2021-04-05|website=We Recycle Solar|language=en-US}}</ref> Over 90% of the solar panel is recyclable to create either new solar panels or scrap material. First, the panels are broken down by removing the metal frames and glass plate, leaving the group of [[solar cell]] sandwiched between an [[:en:Ethylene-vinyl_acetate|ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)]] resin and back film. To actually get to the solar cells themselves, the resin and backing must be removed. <ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.seia.org/policy/environment/pv-recycling |title= PV Recycling |work= |publisher= SEIA |accessdate= May 7, 2015}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web |url= http://2011.solarteam.org/news/recycling-methods-for-used-photovoltaic-panels |title= Recycling Methods for Used Photovoltaic Panels |author= Nick Weadock |date= September 1, 2011 |work= |publisher= Watershed |accessdate=May 7, 2015}}</ref>

 

== Usage ==

== Usage ==

The top ten uses for solar panels include,

The top ten uses for solar panels include,

* powering your home, camper, cabin, tool shed, or other building  

* powering your home, camper, cabin, tool shed, or other building  

* for [[swimming pool]]<nowiki/>s, a solar [[water heating]] system uses solar hot water panels. They may be put on your roof to collect the sun’s heat and bring the water to the pool.  

* for [[swimming pool]]<nowiki/>s, a solar [[water heating]] system uses solar hot water panels. They may be put on your roof to collect the sun’s heat and bring the water to the pool.  

* Solar panels are also being used in [[space exploration]] and other forms of transportation.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://electrical.about.com/od/appliances/tp/Top-10-Solar-Energy-Uses.htm |title= Top 10 Energy Uses |author= Timothy Thiele |work= |publisher= About Home |accessdate=May 17, 2015}}</ref>

* Solar panels are also being used in [[space exploration]] and other forms of transportation.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://electrical.about.com/od/appliances/tp/Top-10-Solar-Energy-Uses.htm |title= Top 10 Energy Uses |author= Timothy Thiele |work= |publisher= About Home |accessdate= May 17, 2015 |archive-date= January 15, 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170115160606/http://electrical.about.com/od/appliances/tp/Top-10-Solar-Energy-Uses.htm |url-status= dead }}</ref>

[[File:STS-97 ISS.jpg|thumb|STS-97 ISS]]

[[File:STS-97 ISS.jpg|thumb|STS-97 ISS]]

== Innovations ==

== Innovations ==

Solar panels have become much cheaper to use, compared to oil, diesel and liquified natural gas in parts of Asia. Solar energy will soon become the main source of energy. Over the years many innovations have been made to improve solar panels. Solar panels have been used for space exploration and are being developed to be able to power cars. Along with this, scientists are developing solar cells in silicone to increase its convenience.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/ambroseevans_pritchard/10755598/Global-solar-dominance-in-sight-as-science-trumps-fossil-fuels.html |title= Global Solar Dominance in Sight as Science Triumphs Fossil Fuels |author= Ambrose Evans-Pritchard |work= |publisher= The Telegraph |accessdate= May 7, 2015}}</ref>

Solar panels have become much cheaper to use, compared to oil, diesel and liquified natural gas in parts of Asia. Solar energy will soon become the main source of energy. Over the years many innovations have been made to improve solar panels. Solar panels have been used for space exploration and are being developed to be able to power cars. Along with this, scientists are developing solar cells in silicone to increase its convenience.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/ambroseevans_pritchard/10755598/Global-solar-dominance-in-sight-as-science-trumps-fossil-fuels.html |title= Global Solar Dominance in Sight as Science Triumphs Fossil Fuels |author= Ambrose Evans-Pritchard |work= |publisher= The Telegraph |accessdate= May 7, 2015}}</ref>

== Solar shingles ==

File:Children of the Sun Solar Initiative (48132850231).jpg|Workers install residential rooftop solar panels

 

 

Solar shingles are a new type of solar panel that look like ordinary asphalt [[roof]] shingles. They are used where the appearance of traditional solar panels might be undesirable, such as on residential rooftops. Solar shingles are more expensive and less durable than normal solar panels.

File:UP-curve of partially shaded solar generator.png|Power/Voltage-curve of a partially shaded PV module, with marked local and global MPP

==References==

== References ==

{{reflist}}

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Solar energy]]

[[Category:Solar energy]]

[[Category:Electricity]]

[[Category:Electricity]]