Dusting Off Solar Panels With an Electric Charge

Maurice Picow — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 07:15:17 +0000

Dubai is prone to frequent dust storms. A new solar panel dust particle remover made in Israel boosts power and cleans off dust at the same time

Solar voltaic panels, which at their best only have about 25 percent efficiency for converting direct sunlight into electricity, have even less efficiency than this when dust and heavy air pollution is factored in. A number of solar innovations can deal with desert dust and sand storms including Martian technology from earth to Mars space programs for ‘zapping’ dust from solar panels on terrestrial unmanned exploration vehicles.

Due to frequent dust and sand storms in the United Arab Emirates (like at Shams solar plant) and other parts of the Middle East, the efficacy of the solar cells is reduced even less if they are afterwards covered with dust. In order to alleviate this problem, a researcher, Sergey Biryukov at Israel’s Ben Gurion National Solar Energy Center came up with the idea of using an electrical field to “charge” the dust particles and repel them from the solar panels.He also specializes in optimizing solar energy output under clouds.

But in his new technique Biryukov applies two electrodes to repel the dust. One electrode charges the particles through a process called field charging, or ion bombardment. This gives all particles, regardless of size, the same charge, Biryukov says. Another electrode bearing the opposite charge then repels the particles. According to another researcher at the Center, David Faiman, the dust particle repelling technique also is useful in periodic cleaning of the panels.

Dusty by-products

The technique may also be useful in “sorting out” various particle sizes which can be incorporated in other functions, such as producing pharmaceuticals and powdered food, the researchers say.

Watch how electric charge can repel dust:

Areas in the Middle East where fog storms and dust storms are frequent and solar energy is beginning to be incorporated into local electrical systems may well benefit from Biryukov’s technique, one it is put into actual production.

Better yet: Biryukov has created a special computerized control system designed to pick the right moment for cleaning of the dust.

Top image Dubai Afternoon Sand Storm by Shutterstock; lower image of dusty Amman, Jordan by Laurie Balbo

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ZenithSolar Makes Solar Power Affordable for Everyone

Lisa Damast — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 14:17:07 +0000

Has affordable solar energy without government subsidies finally arrived?

ZenithSolar, a solar energy tech company, has launched a new solar system on Kibbutz Yavne in Israel that achieves 72% solar efficiency, provides both hot water and electricity and doesn’t require the need of subsidies.

The company’s 3rd generation Combined Heat and Power Z20 Concentrated photovoltaic system is considered the most efficient cleanenergy solar generator in the world and, according to ZenithSolar CEO Roy Segev, ushers in a new generation in solar panel technology, ‘Generation 3’ that is “Combined Heat and Power, Concentrated PV + Solar Thermal.”

Such a combination of heat and power can bring costs down enough that affordable solar-power may just have arrived.

ZenithSolar is now constructing worldwide systems for installations in three new cleanenergy sites for 2011.

The company was founded in 2006 by Segev, David Faiman (see video below) and Andreas Bett with the mission “to bring solar energy into power and heat to people and businesses globally at the same cost as national energy.”

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8mXDsGiiu4[/youtube]

Additional benefits of its new technology include:
• Lowest cost per watt and best potential for energy system cost reduction;
• Highest efficiency in the field >72%;
• Best space utilization of land area;
• Highest possible prevention of CO2 emissions through clean energy generation

The post ZenithSolar Makes Solar Power Affordable for Everyone appeared first on Green Prophet.

David Faiman - Green Prophet

Dusting Off Solar Panels With an Electric Charge

ZenithSolar Makes Solar Power Affordable for Everyone