Solar energy

The subject solar energy often causes heated debates. Banned as ecological daydreaming by its opponents, solar power technology is hailed as a panacea, along with other forms of alternative energy, by its supporters. As usual, the truth is probably somewhere in between these extremes. An essential condition for an objective viewpoint on solar energy is a basic knowledge of the relevant technology. This is often overlooked or forgotten in many ideologically biased debates. This article presents an overview of solar cell types which are available, and which will become available, and how they may be implemented in solar energy installations. Some attention is also given to present-day battery technology.