“What do you want to know about PV cells? They are ‘little yokies’ made from silicon, producing DC electricity when light shines on them. Photovoltaic cells are often confused with solar water heaters, as each is called as a ‘solar panel’” Peter Schneider explains gently to an enthusiastic but confused associate editor. “PV cells are efficient in producing power; they are also long-lasting and reliable, though at present a little expensive - the price will come down.”

Peter Schneider, energy consultant, has completed many successful solar installations, from luxury homes to house boats and is an expert in both types of solar. Now he is the ‘nitty-gritty-picky’ Inspector Schneider, making sure the installers for the Greener Homes Grant Scheme are living up to their standards for your solar heating, energy-saving devices. “The uptake of the scheme has been very good.” says SEI, Sustainable Energy Ireland’s man-on-the-go-with-the-know.

But whilst the Irish Government has yawned, stretched and half-opened its eyes, they haven’t woken up to the superior benefits of PV Solar. “There is a mysterious anti-PV lobby in Ireland” of unknown origins, says Peter. “Yet there is no major industrial interest against it in the country (e.g. no nuclear industry). Can it be that some ‘know-it-all’ once said ‘PV is no good for Ireland’”, and all his gossipy disciples have spread the false word ever since?

It all began with, “Could I charge a little electric car using PV cells on the roof?” I asked Peter after hearing of all that misery in clogs on a wet day at the ‘Mad Cow’ Roundabout. The statistics on just how long that would take didn’t dent my vision of smug smiles at all the petrol I wouldn’t be burning.

But here’s a really interesting detail few people know: PV cells work better when cold. Therefore, a 100Watt-rated panel in clear Irish sunshine may produce 110Watts; the same panel in the Sahara Desert would only produce 70 Watts! By comparison to our pro-PV neighbours, our light is actually better than their light, in Germany and southern Britain. Because we get light for longer, have clearer air and a relatively cold climate, these very positve points cancel out the frequent cover of clouds.

In France it took a car race to get them going. “There are Solar Racers?!” I squealed in delight and disbelief. “Yes, all over the world from Australia to Greece and....” replied Peter. Sleek
racing cars are also being developed in American universities such as MIT and Yale who are among those who enthusiastically develop the technology and participate in these races. Back to the French: apparently along the the Pyrénnéen race route, the number of home solar energy panels has increased considerably, according to Jimmy Dowds.

There are quite a number of interesting projects in Ireland - homes and businesses living and working with PV power - not to mention a lot of offshore lighthouses. One flagship project in the country is Navan Credit Union, designed by Jimmy Dowds & Miriam Sheerin of ‘Eirbytes’, (www.eirbytes.com). “The Irish Government have been vastly under-rating it as a viable alternative energy source” says Jimmy. He added sniffily (in memory of another fine loaf from the PV-powered breadmaker), that he had found those who ought to know better, sadly lacking in accurate facts and figures. He and his wife discovered a good while ago their first ‘wee PV panel’ was impressively power-efficient, and ‘Twenty years is not a bad guarantee period, either”, says he of the PV. But it also complements their blustery, 1kw micro-wind turbine on its pole in the good sea-breeze. The greatest efficiency of power-production being in this dual system.

The raw material is about the most plentiful available worldwide, but making PV cells is a delicate process which has to be done in very clean, laboratory conditions. There are many different manufacturers of solar panels but at present they cannot get enough processed silicon. However, manufacturers have recently been increasing capacity to keep up with the heavy demands. Whilst the demands from computer-chip makers has fallen after the initial boom, they have soared due to the incentives on the Continent and in The States for PV panels; indeed, they are doubling every year.

Despite this, according to industry sources, there is a realistic potential to supply 25% of world electricity by 2040, (1% by 2020. The present reality being between 0.1 and 0.2% in Germany and Japan).

Anyway, between excuses and ‘99 year to pay-back’ delusions on Solar PV, whilst you may be taken in by number-crunchers, bear this in mind: even if a few of these on your south-facing roof or pergola contribute to your useage rather than fully relieve you from The Grid, it is well worth while. It will help to make you and your teenagers energy-conscious, adapt your life to fit in with the availability of your own power and like a gardener, get used to the harvest changes through the year. As one alternative energy guru said in response to some negativity on the ‘will it supply all our needs’ question: “J.F.D.I.” - and if you want to know what that stands for, email me!

In the UK, the Government has reduced VAT on renewable energy products down to 5%! So come on Paddy, and let’s get craic-ing - turn to the light on using Solar PV energy panels and maybe get yer white coats on manufacturing those ‘little yokies’ too!
More chats with PV enthusiasts in forthcoming Local Planets. We’re trying to track down that guy who is using PV’s to snitch the spare light from the street lamp outside his house.