Solar Antennae as Alternative Energy

Solar antennae operate differently than other methods of alternative energy like photovoltaic cells. Solar antennae react to the electric field that is created by passing light waves. It is similar to how a radio antenna reacts to the AM or FM radio waves. The size of the antenna determines what frequency of waves it will be sensitive to receiving. Recent technology has made it possible to build a solar antenna small enough to catch the right wavelengths of sunlight. The solar antenna is designed to catch light waves that are in the infrared range. This includes direct sunlight received straight from the sun during the daylight hours and the heat that radiates from the ground after the sun goes down. Solar antennae can also be adapted to receive heat from items like computer servers or other appliances.

Solar antennae as alternative energy: How they work

Most solar antennae have a diameter of approximately one micrometer. A sheet of solar plastic can contain as many as 260 million of these minuscule antennae. These sheets full of solar antennae can then be installed on rooftops, walls, or as a standalone fixture in the backyard. Some unconventional uses of solar antennae sheets include clothing or camping tents. Because of the flexibility given by using so many small antennae, the solar plastic sheets can be used almost anywhere that polyester fabric would be appropriate.

Solar antennae as alternative energy: Large-scale production

Unfortunately, there are still a few manufacturing issues that prevent solar antennae from being widely available at affordable prices. The high initial cost of production equipment makes it difficult to build enough of the tiny antennae to make large-scale alternative energy generation possible. In future years, these costs are expected to drop and solar antennae will become more prevalent. Businesses and large institutions like universities will probably be the first adopters of this novel form of alternative energy, but it will soon trickle down to the individual homeowner in much the same way as photovoltaic cells and solar panel systems.

Solar antennae as alternative energy: Converting the energy

Another technical problem with using solar antennae on a large scale is the conversion of energy into a form that is usable by the existing grid. The natural frequency of light picked up by a solar antenna is in the trillion-plus cycle per second range, while the current electrical grid requires a 60 Hz frequency. The emerging industry of optical computing has developed several working models that may be combined with solar antennae to create an economical new form of energy generation.