Solar Energy Utilisation

Figure 4.25 Solar energy utilisation inputs, outputs and systems.

Whilst these approaches are extremely interesting scienhfically, to be of any real commercial value in solar energy utilisation the stability of the systems must advance by orders of magnitude. 

El-Mashad HM, van Loon WK, Zeeman G. A model of solar energy utilisation in the anaerobic digestion of cattle manure. Biosystems Eng 2003 84(2) 231-8. 

Pleskov Y V 1994 Semioonduotor photoeleotroohemistry for a oleaner environment utilisation of solar energy Environmental Oriented Eleotroohemistry (Studies in Environmental Soienoe 59) ed C A C Sequeira (Amsterdam Elsevier)... 

Industrial Recovered Materials Utilisation Targets for the Rubberindusty, report prepared for U.S. DOE, Assistant Secretary for Conservation and Solar Energy, Office of Industrial Programs, Hittman Associates, Inc., 1980. 

J. A. Alich, Jr., and R. E. Inman, Effective Utilisation of Solar Energy to Produce Clean Fuel, Grant No. GI38723, Final Report for National Science Foundation, Stanford Research Institute, Palo Alto, Calif., June 1974. 

Semiconductor surfaces have been utilised as sensitisers to drive photochemical conversion and storage of solar energy. In principle, this should lead to a higher level of photon absorption and more effective charge separation. Both phenomena can substantially increase solar photochemical conversion efficiency, but these systems have not yet displayed high efficiencies of fuel generation or long-term stabilities. 

Essentially all free energy utilised by biological systems arises from solar energy that is trapped by the process of photosynthesis. The basic equation of photosynthesis is deceptively simple. Water and carbon dioxide combine to form carbohydrates and molecular oxygen. 

The threshold wavelengths for all the four cycles fall in the wavelength region 300-500 nm. Earlier discussions on efficiency (Fig. 1.1) show that the overall solar energy conversion efficiency of these cycles will necessarily be low. To achieve a somewhat better efficiency, Bolton, Almgren and others propose utilisation of two photochemical systems coupled to each other. In close analogy to in vivo photosynthesis, Bolton proposed a C5 cycle 1,10)... 

Lewis, Nathan S. and Crabtree, George Basic Research needs for energy utilisation , DOE Report on the Basic Research Workshop on Solar Cell Utilisation, April 18-21, 2005. http // WWW. sc. doe. gov/bes /reports /files / SEU rpt.pdf (accessed, January, 10, 2010). 

From a building-physics perspective, the high transmissibility of the entire radiation spectrum is of fundamental importance. As already explained, the especially high transmissibility of the UV spectrum is already specifically utilised. Due to the high transmissibility of radiation, durability and selfcleaning surface properties, ETFE-foils are especially suited for the generation of solar energy. The first tests with flexible photovoltaic cells placed between two ETFE-foil layers have already been done. 

Abstract This chapter will introduce advances in properties, production and manufacturing techniques of the advanced polymer/fibre composite materials that are utilised in the manufacture of machines that produce sustainable energy. Chapter 19 discussed the various methods of transferring wind, tidal, wave and solar energies into electrical power and this chapter will show how advanced composites are utilised in these various machines. Furthermore, it will suggest methods for the repair, maintenance and recycling of advanced polymer composite wind turbine blades. Finally, the future trends of sustainable energy systems and the role that polymers and polymer/fibre composites will have in their manufacture/fabrication will be evaluated. 

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