Solar energy is currently one of the largest renewable energy sources in the world. It’s also the most preferred than other renewable sources because it’s clean, sustainable, and powerful enough to replace fossil fuels. Since the first solar panel was created in 1954, our scientists have developed better and better solar power technologies today.
Here are just some of the best and newest solar power technologies of the decade.
Solar Cars
In the year 2023, the solar car market will reach a 350 million dollar growth. Due to the increasing demand for better and efficient charging systems, the industry will find better ways to charge cars. Powered by electricity that depends on solar powers, solar cars come with PV cells mounted on their panels. They also have batteries that store energy. Another important factor for the growth of the solar car market is the increased concern about climate change and pollution. As more and more support green technologies, more manufacturers will develop energy-efficient and environmentally friendly electric cars.
Floating Solar Farms
Based on studies, scientists found that photovoltaic panels are best placed on water bodies. Doing this increases the efficiency of the panels due to the cooling effect of water. Furthermore, as silicon panels get cheaper and more efficient, more solar power systems will be created to supply solar electricity in various regions. Korea was one of the first countries to try floating photovoltaic systems in their own state. Using the surface of their Juan Danm they constructed a 500 kW solar farm plant.
Solar Noise Barriers
Traffic noises are a real problem for city occupants. That’s why traffic noise barriers are constructed to reduce the noise from traffic. Today, the US Department of Energy is studying a way to make noise barriers more sustainable with the use of solar energy. According to data, the potential solar energy noise barriers can make annually would be around 400 gigawatt-hours, this is enough to power 37,000 homes.
Cost-Effective and Powerful Solar Shingles
Solar shingles or solar roof tiles generate solar energy just like solar panels. They can also work off the grid and require an inverter to work. This year we’ll see a significant reduction in the cost of solar shingles making them a great option for almost all households. Unlike solar panels, solar shingles look more aesthetically pleasing than bulky solar panels. Most solar shingles can work for over 30 years after installation before a replacement may be needed. This makes solar shingles a great investment for people who want to go green.
Anti-Solar Panels
Anti-solar panels harness energy in darkness. It has the potential to fix the gap left by solar energy which can only collect energy from sunlight and daytime. Unlike traditional solar panels, these panels use heat radiating off the Earth’s surface.
While the conventional solar panels absorb photons from the sun’s radiation and use it to generate an electric charge, anti-solar panels take advantage of the phenomenon known as radiative cooling. This is when the air grows cold at night and heat radiates from the Earth’s surface. Radiative cooling is already used to cool homes more sustainable, anti-solar panels use the same principles to harvest energy.
As of now, anti-solar panels are still a relatively new technology and they’re still in the research and development stage. They still can’t harvest energy as much as solar panels but there is a potential that they could work as much and even better as the traditional solar panels.
Solar Fabric
What if the clothes you wear generated energy? You could use it to charge your phone, keep yourself warm, and provide other energy needs on the go. That’s the vision of scientists currently developing solar fabrics.
Solar fabrics are types of fabric with embedded photovoltaic cells. They can generate electricity when exposed to sunlight. Unlike traditional solar cells that are fragile and expensive, solar fabric uses organic polymer cells that are flexible and can be stitched to fabric. As of now, they have attempted to create various inventions using solar fabric. There are solar fabrics used as building facades that provide shade and power. Awnings that lighten up streetlights, and curtains that eliminate power consumption from the grid.
Solar Roadways
Solar panels do take a lot of space, so to increase their efficiency and practicality, experts have tried a good solution. Placing solar panels on roads and highways in the same way street lamps and posts are used to light up streets. Solar roadways can help generate large amounts of power without taking up so much land area. Solar roadway inventors aim to modernize roads with intelligent panels that can also be used to create clean and renewable energy for cars and homes.
