Capturing Energy from the Heavens

Every hour the sun beams onto Earth, there is more than enough energy to satisfy the global energy needs for a whole year. However, the technology produces less than one tenth of one percent of today’s global energy demand.

Global climate change and the need to reduce energy consumption are adding to the call for smart megawatts power generation. The recent nuclear crisis in Japan and oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, along with ever-rising energy costs are also spearheading the development of safer alternative-energy solutions. With the 42nd Anniversary of Earth Day fast approaching, the cry for an endless amount of clean energy has never been louder.

To gain a clearer view of the new technological advancements shaping the future of solar energy, we looked to Mouser Electronics, a leading global semiconductor and electronic components distributor that works with design engineers and buyers. Known for its rapid introduction of the latest products and most advanced technologies used for prototype development, the company is keenly positioned as a foremost design-fulfillment distributor inspiring a new generation of solar solutions.

Delivering the Power of the Sun

One way Mouser is helping design engineers tap into the energy of the sun is with their Solar Product Knowledge Center (PKC) application training site. Engineers can quickly review new products and technologies, select a particular supplier, get details on a specific application, or access a library of solar design resources.

“Much of today’s advanced design solutions require more than a list of part numbers and suppliers in stock. The web experience also needs to be an informative one. Not only does it need to contain the latest solar advancements, trends and supporting product information, but the site also needs to let engineers access the information they need in as few clicks as possible. The one component engineers have in short supply is time,” shares Kevin Hess, Mouser VP of Technical Marketing.

Kevin Hess, Mouser VP of Technical Marketing

A recent game-changing development seen at Mouser is the new solar micro inverter. A key player in advancing this technology has been STMicroelectronics, a company whose products and solutions are well positioned in the photovoltaic world. Instead of having one large inverter that handles all of the current conversion from DC to AC, these new solar panels have a solar micro inverter that takes the DC current generated by the solar panel and converts it directly to AC current before leaving the panel. This has led to a complete solution contained within the solar panel, resulting in greater conversion efficiency since power isn’t lost in having to travel over long wires. Additionally, this solution provides even greater, easier scalability. Expanding your solar power system is as simple as adding another solar panel.

To see everything under the sun, be sure tovisit www.mouser.com/solar_technology. ■