Create Your Own Dye Sensitized Solar Cell

     Understanding the production of a Dye Sensitized Solar Cell may seem seem far from a walk in the park for many people. Every description throws out seemingly cryptic technical names of components, such as a 'photoelectrode composed of a transparent conducting oxide', or various processes, such as utilizing a firing furnace, that will not make sense to or may not be available to anyone that is not an engineer. This may, in turn, intimidate people from learning more about this innovative invention.

     So how can one learn more about these cells in layman's terms? By creating one at home! The video below teaches people how to make a Dye Sensitized Solar Cell at home using readily available parts.

Video by Solar Blogger

      Now that you have seen how to make a cell, it will be easier to understand its components and production. So instead of looking confused the next time you hear someone use the phrase 'photoelectrode composed of a transparent conducting oxide', you will be able to smile back and know exactly what part they are referring to!

National Annual Solar Energy Report for Utilties in 2009

     The Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) released its report on the 2009 Utility Solar Rankings across the United States. SEPA is a non profit organization that focuses on research, education and utility outreach. For the last three years, they have released an annual report with the Top Ten rankings for “Solar Megawatts” overall and “Solar Watts per Customer”, which have been quantified nationally as well as been broken down by region, utility type and meter configurations. Here is a closer look at the national rankings for utilities according to annual solar megawatts, annual solar megawatts per customer, and cumulative solar megawatts.

     According to the report, “photovoltaics made up 98% of the installed megawatts”*, even though only two new solar power projects started this year, one in California and the other in Hawaii. Of the national top ten utilities providing annual solar megawatts, five of them were located in California. The top top two utilities were Pacific Gas & Electric (CA) and Southern California Edison (CA). Third place, which was previously held by San Diego Gas & Electric, was replaced by Public Service Gas & Electric (NJ).

      The top three utilities for annual solar watts-per-customer were Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Co-op (AZ), providing 56.0 watts per customer, Maui Electric Co (HI), providing 33.8 watts per customer, and Hawaii Electric Light Co. (HI), providing 31.4 watts per customer. All three of these were customer based distributed projects, as compared to Southern California Edison which was due to centralized photovoltaic plants that were constructed. Overall, the median watts per customer increased from an average of 15 watts per customer last year to about 20 watts per customer this year.

(Third Annual 2009 Utility Solar Rankings- figure 3) 

       Surprisingly, the cumulative solar megawatts rankings for 2009 went unchanged from 2008. This keeps Southern California Edison (CA) at number one, Pacific Gas & Electric Co. (CA) at number two, and NV Energy (NV) at number three. Of the top ten cumulative solar megawatt utilities, five of them were in California.

      Of all of the solar energy that has been captured, over two thirds of it was accumulated through rooftop distributed projects. The remaining one third was through concentrating solar power projects that will become more prominent throughout the coming years. 

 *Third Annual 2009 Utility Solar Rankings. Rep. no. 01-10. Solar Electric Power Association, 2010.