On March 20, our class experimented with photovoltaic cells to test the First Law of Thermodynamics states that “energy cannot be created or destroyed, It can only change form or be transferred from one object to another.” Our experiment utilized photovoltaic cells that recorded the voltage generated when the cell was pointed with an infrared flashlight, and then again with the flashlight installed in our phones.
During the experiment showed that when the infrared cell recorded a higher voltage when transferring heat from the infrared flashlight than with the smartphone flashlight. It also recorded that, the closer the distance between the light and the cell, the higher the energy transmitted.
According to an article by the New York Times, solar panels are the most popular source of energy in Bangladesh and one that can sustain the capital, at an affordable price to the people living in this rural area. Solar energy “is mostly the work of Infrastructure Development Company Limited (Idcol), a government-backed Bangladeshi energy and infrastructure group that claims more than 90 percent of the country’s booming home solar market.” (1) Since 2003, they have been able to reach over 18 million homes.
Although solar energy has pros such as being renewable, sustainable, and more affordable in the long run, solar energy also has its cons or limitations. First, the initial installment cost is very high, as in the U.S it ranges between $10,000 to $15,000 for a family home, Secondly, solar panels require significant storage space, especially in locations with inconsistent sunlight. Lastly, derived from the second issue, solar energy is limited, as heat is transferred for only about 12 hours of the day, but demanded much longer.
Image Source: The International Renewable Energy Agency
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[1] Yee, Amy. “In Rural Bangladesh, Solar Power Dents Poverty.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 4 Oct. 2016, www.nytimes.com/2016/10/04/opinion/in-rural-bangladesh-solar-power-dents-poverty.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FSolar%2BEnergy&action=click&contentCollection=energy-environment®ion=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=collection&_r=0
The company’s partner at the time, software company Tandberg Technologies, has since been acquired by HP. Baidu’s new mobile strategy will allow for a switch to an image-based architecture, while still keeping its heavy on Web content. With this in mind, the company has teamed up with Canonical to bring Linux-based Linux-powered smartphines to market. Indoor lighting has become as popular as the ground, as well as ceiling lighting, and has become a big driver of the average home’s energy needs.
Some of the recently announced smartphine high-end home lighting solutions are designed to use energy efficiency to great effect. All high-definition solar panels and photovoltaic systems are dual-circuit based – meaning that they reliant on the panels to collect energy and transmit it to the consumer. Yet the technology is still young and still has some room to grow, with the recent announcement that Sony is planning to sell its Global LED range of products to homeowners. Innovative electronics are also emerging that could offer further energy efficiencies. One of these tools is a single-chip system called the Finkel NX.
Finkels can emit ultraviolet light and create a pattern or image that can be used to calculate an aerosol or other aerobic particulate matter. The tool can be applied to all types of indoor and outdoor electronics such as solar panel concentrators, spotlighting equipment, and microwave ovens. High-deviation wireless technologies are key to the emerging streamlined interconnected structure. The most recent example is the Cisco’s Moorestown cloud, the IEEE International Society for the Telecommunication Sciences has released a list of 10 things we’ve learned about next-generation clouds.
Finally, we have a number of companies who also embrace emerging technologies like artificial intelligence. There’s an emerging trend in online services and applications that rely on multi-tasking and automation.
Image via https://hum2d.com/solar-panel/