The National Park College (NPC) First Friday Lunch and Lecture Series featured Dr.
Matthew Young, assistant professor of electrical engineering at Arkansas Tech University
(ATU). The event was held Friday, March 2 at noon in Lab Sciences 118 and was sponsored
by the NPC Math and Sciences Division. Solar panels are a form of solid-state power with no motion. A solar panel consisting
of 60-72 panels can generate between 270-320 watts of energy. In comparison, a single
turbine generates the amount of power of one million solar panels.
Manufacturers and developers are working to lower panel cost to $0.35/panel by the
year 2050. The demand for solar power has been driving down cost at a steady rate
since patenting in 1941.
The efficiency of the panels increased from 1 percent to 25 percent between 1941-1999.
During this time the price has went from $100/panel to $0.60 - $1.00/panel.
Out of all solar cells that are made, 95 percent are silicon solar cells. The other
5 percent are thin film panels. Thin film are Cadmium Telluride Solar Cells. Thin
film solar panel production can be done at relatively low cost, promotes a shorter
payback time, and lessens carbon footprint. These panels typically generate power
for 25 years after date of purchase.
When asked what drove him to focus on solar power Dr. Young responded “Solar power
was the most goodwill thing I could do with my interest in integrated circuits and
how they are created and also my fascination with semiconductors.”
