Nano green energy sounds like something you would see on some future flick, but the future is now and these days we have something that would even make the Jetsons jealous. Nanotechnology holds a lot of promise with regard to revolutionising green energy by building molecular compounds through atom binding. Nanotechnologies started in the 1980s and now almost 30 years later, it is currently being developed for the use of green energy in our homes.
For those of you that have never heard about nano technology its simply the manipulation of mass on an atomic level to form super small materials and structures. The national grid in the US provided a grant of US$225k on the research of nano green energy. In the UK The Technology Strategy Board and the Engineering and Physical Science Council invested 7 million pounds. The aim of both departments is to maximize the power we cultivate using solar energy with the use of nano engineering.
Nanotechnology is rapidly replacing the use of silicon in solar panels. The following factors will give you a simpler understanding as to why. A typical pv sheet made of silicon will cost on average US$4 per watt while the new power sheet only cost US$0.30 per watt, a difference of US$3.70. The second factor is the new material called smart plastic that will enable solar panels to be mass produced. Lastly, with the help of nano green energy 98 percent of power coming from the sun is sustained compared to silicon where 70 percent of the energy is lost.
The implementations of using nano green energy in solar panels is expected to grow exponentially over the next ten years. Currently solar energy production in the US is just under 9,000 megawatts per year but its expected to grow to accommodate 10% of the whole nations intake by the year 2025. The advancement of Nano green energy will have a big impact on households by converting their power source from conventional to nanotechnology-enabled green energy. Thus, it will have long term benefits such as cheaper electricity bill, lesser carbon emissions, aesthetics of the home and saving on natural resources in a larger scale.
To sum things up nanotechnology will be a household name in the near future. When it comes to leading in clean renewable energy maybe its time to stop thinking big and start thinking small; Really small. The great thing about this advancement is that its designed for everyone to have access. Who could ever imagine that a tiny particle could lead to such a astonishing invention.
