Home Fuel Cell

A home fuel cell or a residential fuel cell is a scaled down version of industrial stationary fuel cell for primary or backup power generation. These fuel cells are usually based on combined heat and power-CHP or micro combined heat and power MicroCHP technology, generating both power and heated water or air. A commercially working cell is called Ene-Farm in Japan and is supported by the regional government which uses natural gas to power up the fuel cell to produce electricity and heated water. Most home fuel cells fit either inside a mechanical room or outside a home or business, and can be discreetly sited to fit within a building's design.

            Some of the newer home fuel cells can generate anywhere between 1–5 kW—optimal for larger homes (370 square metres [4,000 sq ft] or more), especially if pools, spas, and radiant floor heating are in plans. Other uses include sourcing of back-up power for essential loads like refrigerator/freezers and electronics/computers. Deploying the system's heat energy efficiently to a home or business' hot water applications displaces the electricity or gas otherwise burned to create that heat, which further reduces overall energy bills. Retail outlets like fast food chains, coffee bars, and health clubs gain operational savings from hot water heating.

Since it is in general not possible for a fuel cell to produce at all times exactly the needed amount of both electricity and heat, home fuel cells are typically not standalone installations. Instead they may rely on the grid when the electricity production is above or below what is needed. Additionally, a home fuel cell may be combined with a traditional furnace that produces only heat. For example, the German company Viessmann produces a home fuel cell with an electric power of 0.75 kW and a thermal power of 1 kW, integrated with a traditional 19 kW heat producing furnace, using the grid for electricity need below and above the fuel cell production.

Manipulating sunlight

There are two main types of solar energy: photovoltaics (PV), and concentrated solar power (CSP), also known as solar thermal power. Photovoltaics convert sunlight directly into electricity using solar cells in solar panels. Concentrated solar power uses sunlight to heat a fluid which generates steam and powers a turbine to create energy. PV currently comprises 98% of global solar energy, with CSP as the remaining 2%.

PV and CSP vary in the way they are used, the energy that is produced, and the materials that are used in their construction. The efficiency of the energy that is produced with PV stays constant with the size of the solar panel and the meaning that using a smaller over a larger solar panel will not increase the rate of energy production. This is because of the Balance-of-System (BOS) components that are also used in solar panels, which includes the hardware, combiner boxes, and inverters. With CSP, bigger is better. As it uses the heat from the sun’s rays, the more sunlight that can be collected the better.

 This system is very similar to the fossil fuel power plants in use today. The major difference being that CSP uses mirrors that reflect the heat from sunlight to heat fluids (instead of burning coal or natural gas), which generate steam to turn turbines. This also makes CSP well suited for hybrid plants, such as combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT), which use solar energy and natural gas to turn turbines, generating energy. With CSP, the energy output from incoming solar energy yields only 16% net electricity. CCGT energy output yields ~55% net electricity, much more than CSP alone.

Solar Roadways

Solar Roadways (SR) is a modular system of specially engineered solar panels that can be walked and driven upon. Our panels contain LED lights to create lines and signage without paint. They contain heating elements to prevent snow and ice accumulation. An LED would be ideal because of its low power consumption. Solar cells use certain wavelengths of the light spectrum.

An incandescent bulb produces all the wavelengths the sun does, but in different amounts.  So, from a scientific standpoint, LEDs will probably produce the correct light to charge a solar cell. The Solar Roadway panels are made of tempered (safety) glass. Glass was chosen for its hardness, strength, durability, and transmittance.

SR glass is textured to create proper traction for vehicles and pedestrians. Sebastian Anthony noted in Extreme Tech that the cost to replace all roads in the United States with Solar Roadways panels would come to approximately $56 trillion, based on Scott Brusaw's cost estimate of $10,000 for a 12-by-12-foot (3.7 m × 3.7 m) section.

Solar Power Technology

           By 2020, solar technologies could account for a significant portion of global power generation, helping economies and businesses guard against rising energy costs and the impact of climate change. However, finding opportunities to further reduce the cost of solar technologies will be key to unlocking this potential.

          Because polysilicon, the primary raw material used by solar module manufacturers, is the single largest cost in the solar supply chain, it represents the most significant opportunity for cost reduction. Over the next several years, new lower-cost methods of polysilicon production will commercialize, providing the solar industry with a more affordable source of raw material.

       In turn, these cost improvements will trickle down throughout the solar supply chain, accelerating the adoption of solar energy around the world and helping the industry realize its global potential.