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A homemade solar cell is one of the most efficient ways to power your home using renewable energy. A solar cell converts energy from the sun into electricity and is normally installed on a person’s roof of their home. You are able to purchase these new from different stores, but the problem is that they are very costly. You might spend upwards of $1,000. It’s a great way in knowing how to generate electricity for free. A better way is to build your own homemade solar cell. Here is how:

Materials You Need

• Copper Sheeting•Clear Plexiglass/Perpex/Acrylic Sheeting • Some Thin Wood Strip • copper Wire • Duct Tape • Metal Guillotine • Bandsaw • Electric Ring Hob These materials focus on the most cost efficient technologies in terms of cost per generated power.

How A Homemade Solar Cell Works

1.) Photons in sunlight hit the solar panel and are absorbed by semiconducting materials, such as silicon.

2.) Electrons (negatively charged) are knocked loose from their atoms, allowing them to flow through the material to produce electricity. Due to the special composition of solar cells, the electrons are only allowed to move in a single direction. The complementary positive charges that are also created (like bubbles) are called holes and flow in the direction opposite of the electrons in a silicon solar panel.

3.) An array of solar cells converts solar energy into a usable amount of direct current (DC) electricity. To find out more information about the steps going into building a homemade solar cell, visit building a homemade solar cell.

How To Prepare A Solar Cell

For preparing the solar panel, the solar cells are arranged in rows. These must be connected for a smooth flow of energy. A sheet of plastic or glass is placed on the panel of cells so that they are protected. After this, the edges of the solar panel are framed.

Wind Energy: The Way Forward for Clean Energy

The growing need for clean, renewable energy sources has been a concern for many years. New technological developments in wind energy systems and increasing problems with our current power plants can only lead to the conclusion that clean alternative energy must be the way for the future.

Problems with Existing Energy Sources

Most of our energy is currently created using coal, gas, oil or nuclear power. These methods damage the environment and use huge amounts of water in the production process. With many areas suffering critical drought and low water tables, water needs to be conserved and used as efficiently as possible.

The United States imports more gas and oil than any other nation. Many of its suppliers are in troubled and unstable areas. Placing the nation at the mercy of these countries by being dependent upon them for essential power has many undesirable political and social repercussions. Being self-sufficient as a nation by generating wind power energy locally can significantly contribute to the security of the nation.

The Pros of Wind Energy

Wind energy creates electricity from the wind, so that it can be used as a power source. Spinning wind turbine blades rotate with the wind to turn a generator and the energy of motion is converted into electricity. A concentration of these wind turbines placed together is called a “wind farm.” Unlike traditional energy production, wind power energy can be produced and consumed in dry areas and in times of drought, conserving water for other essential uses.

Wind power is known to have little or no damaging effect on the environment compared to other energy sources. Emissions are negligible as no fuel is combusted. The mass production of clean energy using wind power has the potential to reduce global warming. It can reduce pollution known to cause acid rain, smog, haze and the high mercury contamination currently found in our water supply.

wind farm

Wind farms can be located offshore or on land, and the land can still be used for grazing livestock or farming. Wind energy was harnessed and used in ancient civilizations but during the Industrial Revolution, for economic reasons, oil was seen as a cheaper way to obtain energy. 

Coal, gas and oil prices have now rocketed. Once wind power energy has been established, it could stabilize energy prices. With the new wind turbine technology now available it makes renewable wind energy the cheapest and most economical way to create clean energy for all.

Learn how you can build your own wind turbines for $200 or less at Clean4Energy or Green Power Easy DIY Guide

Domestic, small scale, roof mounted wind turbines have a huge potential to contribute to localised electricity production, able to be installed on almost all varieties of roofs anywhere; although the degree of benefits associated will vary, depending on both the type chosen and location to which they are sited.

There are however a number of downsides to these small scale micro wind turbines, these are:

Vibration – As wind turbine consists of moving parts, this causes a degree of vibration to occur, which if mounted on the roof, is transmitted through to the building below, causing undue stresses.

build own wind turbine

Turbulence – Air passing over a building is distorted, resulting in cylindrical air movements. This interferes with the wind turbines normal operation resulting in increased stress and lower energy capture. This can be avoided however, if installed significantly above the roofline; however this is much more complicated and may negate any financial benefits. Or a sophisticated dampening system may be adopted, which separates the turbine from the building structure.

Safety – Turbines installed on roofs are a particular health and safety hazard, with higher risks associated due to their placement within close proximity to occupants.  Their fixings need to be strong enough to withstand high wind levels, and noise levels minimised.

Efficiency – The majority of residents currently live in built up urban locations, which are sheltered areas, and consequently experience high degree of intermittent wind speeds. The average wind speed in a town or city is generally a lot less than for the same turbine in a rural and open location.

Financially these turbines are not currently viable for the mass market, however with increased grants becoming available, this situation may be changing, and if the price is cheap enough, these issues mentioned above may not necessarily be a problem.

The cost effectiveness may be increased through clever use of energy storage from the turbines, such as an electric immersion heating element in a water tank may be used, reducing the impact of intermittent electricity production, and making it more viable a source to meet a home’s energy needs.

Although this article emphasises generally negative aspects of wind turbines, it needs to be appreciated, that presuming that are installed correctly, they can provide signficant cost savings, contributing significantly to Homeowners annual energy bill. More information found on Wind Turbines here.