News about solar panels

Could a new solar technology make solar panels more efficient?

Solar cells that combine traditional silicon with cutting-edge perovskites could push the efficiency of solar panels to new heights. Beyond Silicon, Caelux, First Solar, Hanwha Q Cells, Oxford PV, Swift Solar, Tandem PV 3 to 5 years In November 2023, a buzzy solar technology broke yet another world record for efficiency.

Could a new solar industry lead to a more sustainable future?

But Oxford experts say this kind of research could ultimately lead to a new industry, which manufactures materials to generate cheap, sustainable solar energy using existing buildings, vehicles and objects. Other innovations have explored integrating solar generation into our urban environments, including solar windows.

What does the new funding mean for solar energy?

The new funding also highlights investment in a next generation of solar technologies, intended to wring more electricity out of the same amount of solar panels. Currently only about 20% of the sun’s energy is converted to electricity in crystalline silicon solar cells, which is what most solar panels are made of.

Where are solar panels made?

Most of the cells and almost all of the silicon wafers that make up these products are made in China, where economies of scale and technological improvements have cut the cost of a solar panel by about 90% since perovskites made their debut in 2009 (see ‘Solar power is incredibly cheap’).

Do solar panels save money?

On hot, sunny days like this one, the panels make electricity Salas uses and sends back to the grid, reducing his family's energy bills. SALAS: (Speaking Spanish). SIMON: It helps a lot, he says, because you save a little money with solar. You don't have to worry if you have to use air conditioning during the day because it is very hot.

How has solar technology changed the world?

Solar technology has come a long way since New York inventor Charles Fritts created the first solar cell in 1883. His device wasn’t very efficient – it was only capable of turning a tiny amount of the sunshine it absorbed into electricity, about 1% to 2%.