Solar panels are now covering an increasing number of rooftops, but despite their established name as an excellent alternative source of electricity, the pieces of silicon technology remain expensive, high in maintenance and bulky.
Further, significant limitations also prevent these traditional photovoltaic from consuming more than a portion of the energy from sunlight. It is a red alarm since people purchase solar panels in the first place to reduce electrical expenses while maximizing the solar energy they can generate.
Fortunately, there are developments in solar power technology that hopes to provide more efficiency to resolve the issues regarding solar power production. Check them out below!
Monocrystalline Over Polycrystalline
There is an ongoing discussion regarding the superior photovoltaic cell technology between polycrystalline and monocrystalline silicon cells.
Monocrystalline cells are from a single crystal bar which is more efficient, but its production is more expensive, which leads the way for polycrystalline technology to be the preferred type of cell used, especially during the last five years.
However, Polycrystalline cells or multi-crystalline cells comes from a multifaceted crystalline element which is cheaper to manufacture but provides somewhat lower efficiency. Still, both are widely produced and are much reliable, but Monocrystalline cells are considered the preferred technology.
The Busbars
The busbars are another latest form of solar technology. These are the thin ribbons or wires which is operating each cell and carrying the electrons using the solar module. Some manufacturers like LG energy have moved another step further and produced wire modules using up to 12 super thin, round busbars.
However, the trade-off is that the busbars will cover some part of the cell, reducing the performance lightly, that’s why manufacturers have to design them properly. Also, multiple busbars offer lower resistance and provide a shorter travel path for the electrons ending up in higher performance.
Bifacial Panels
The technology of bifacial solar power has been available for a few years but is rising its publicity just recently due to the need to produce the high-quality monocrystalline cells continues to decline.
In detail, bifacial cells can absorb light rays from the different sides of the panel, and when placed in the right conditions and location, it can deliver up to 30% more energy than the traditional mono-facial panels.
Plus, the bifacial solar panels use rear and front glass system to encase the cells which are considered to be more durable than the conventional plastic back sheet laminate used on regular boards.
Also, the glass rear side lasts longer, offering lower degradation over time and can incredibly reduce the chance of failure. Moreover, some companies are now offering 30-year warranties on their bifacial panel models.
Solar Optimizers
This new technology is slowly becoming prevalent which is the extension of the combined power optimizers within the solar panels. Notably, optimizers are small sets of chips which can circumvent infected or shaded cells that can reduce the total solar array output.
Hence, dirt and shading can generate some hot spots over time which will reduce the life of the solar panel. Further, there have been available power optimizers as an add-on component from manufacturers such as SolarEdge and Tigo.
Gallium Arsenide
The gallium arsenide can make solar photovoltaic systems approximately three times effective than existing solar power products on the market. Moreover, the solar cells are also known as the triple junction cells since they’re quite more efficient, and they can be altered chemically in a way that optimizes the gathering of sunlight.
Further, the model employs a sensor-activated window blind which can track sunlight through the “light-pipes” that lead the light to the system.
Takeaway
Solar technology is in the constant phase of innovation from the past few years, with the new advancements in solar panel technology published almost every month. Indeed in the recent years, there have been breakthroughs in solar energy efficiency, solar storage, and solar tech design.
Those items listed above are some of the discoveries that you should know about the latest solar power technology. But if you want to gather more info, consider visiting G store and other tech sites online.
