From Guest Blogger Anica Oaks: Four Ways Science Has Revolutionized Solar Tech in the Last 10 Years

The chief obstacles to bringing solar power to mainstream consumers have been low efficiency, storage, and high cost compared to conventional energy grids. Solar panels require hundreds or thousands of photovoltaic cells to capture sunlight, convert it into electrons, and pass it through inverters to become usable AC current. When there’s less sunlight, there’s less power. However, over the last decade researchers have made a lot of progress.

1. New Materials

British researchers came up with gallium arsenide, a material that can increase efficiency three-fold, so that these solar cells are known as “triple junction” cells. They can be chemically optimized to capture more light.

Canadian scientists have introduced light-sensitive nanoparticles, otherwise known as colloidal quantum dots. These use semiconductor materials, but don’t degrade from oxidation in outdoor weather. Panels using these nanoparticles are lighter, more flexible, and more efficient.

2. Storage Technology

Storing produced electricity in periods of low sunlight is a challenge that typically been resolved with batteries. One promising new solution is molten salt. A bed of inorganic salt absorbs excess sunlight as radiant thermal energy. The inorganic salts can store enough radiant energy to reach 500 degrees Celsius. The high heat can be transferred via liquids for power conversion by thermal systems.

3. New Applications

One promising application is using solar panels as road surfaces. These are designed to withstand vehicle traffic, but continually gather solar energy to power streetlights, traffic alerts, and even de-icing heat circuits in winter. Though still prohibitively expensive, successful trials have been conducted in both the US and the Netherlands. Other designs from India, China, Japan, the US, and Europe are leading to massive floating solar stations on the ocean and perhaps someday soon in orbit.

4. More Consumer Options

Today’s improved solar systems are gaining ground with eco-friendly consumers. As products improve and prices fall, you can find customized solutions from ML Solar and other solar companies using a range of products for specific needs. Different solar panel outputs, inverters, and roof racking systems can generate power in any amount of space according to your needs. With the official permits and inspections from local authorities, you can even go off-grid and eliminate your electric bill completely.

Solar power has made important advances over the past decade. Consumers are gravitating to it even though most utility companies choose to ignore it. However, as a clean and virtually unlimited source of energy, the solar industry and its technology continue to grow.