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New ultra-thin solar panel technology promises to increase energy efficiency and reduce dependence on large solar farms.
A revolution is about to transform the way we capture and use clean energy. Researchers from Oxford University, in England, have developed a new ultra-thin solar panel technology that can be applied to virtually any surface, from building roofs to the back of a smartphone. This innovation promises to increase efficiency in capturing solar energy and reduce dependence on large solar farms, which occupy vast tracts of land.
Ultrathin Perovskite Panels
The ultra-thin solar panels developed by Oxford scientists are made from perovskite, a material that has been shown to be extremely efficient at absorbing sunlight. Unlike conventional solar panels, which use silicon and capture about 22% of solar energy, new perovskite panels can convert up to 27% of sunlight into energy. This represents a considerable increase in efficiency, and researchers believe that this rate could exceed 45% in the near future.
The great advantage of this technology is its versatility. With a thickness of just over a micron – 150 times thinner than the silicon wafers used in traditional solar panels – these coatings can be applied to a variety of surfaces, from plastics to paper, using simple techniques such as inkjet printing.
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How can ultra-thin panels transform solar energy?
The development of ultra-thin solar panels comes at a crucial time for clean energy. With climate change intensifying, the need to transition to renewable sources becomes increasingly urgent.
Solar energy, one of the fastest growing sources of electricity globally, has seen a boom in adoption. According to the wood mackenzie, solar panel installations grew 80% in 2023, marking the 19th consecutive year that solar energy was the fastest-growing source of electricity.
This growth, however, brings with it challenges, especially with regard to the space needed to install large solar farms. These facilities, which often occupy agricultural land or conservation areas, can generate conflicts and limit the expansion of solar energy. This is where ultra-thin solar panels come in as a promising solution.
By enabling any surface to become an energy source, this technology can alleviate pressure on land use and expand solar energy capture to urban and industrial environments.
From rooftops to smartphones
The flexibility of ultra-thin perovskite solar panels opens up a world of possibilities for clean energy. Junke Wang, one of the scientists involved in the project, explains that these coatings can be applied to various surfaces, from the roofs of cars and buildings to the back of cell phones.
“We can imagine perovskite coatings being applied to broader types of surfaces to generate cheap solar energy,” says Wang.
This versatility not only facilitates the adoption of solar energy across different sectors, but can also reduce production and installation costs. By integrating ultra-thin solar panels directly into products such as vehicles and mobile devices, solar energy can become even more accessible and widespread.
Obstacles in implementing new technology
One of the main obstacles facing the new technology is the stability of perovskite coatings. Under laboratory conditions, some of these coatings have been shown to be less durable than traditional solar panels, dissolving or breaking down over short periods of time. The Oxford team is working to improve the durability of the materials and ensure the technology can be commercialized on a large scale.
Henry Snaith, head of the research team at Oxford, believes that, with the necessary improvements, the technology has enormous commercial potential. “The latest innovations in solar materials and techniques demonstrated in our laboratories could become a platform for a new industry, manufacturing materials to generate solar energy more sustainably and cheaply,” explains Snaith.
Oxford PV, a company spun off from the University of Oxford, has already started manufacturing perovskite solar panels at its factory in Germany. This indicates that, although there are still challenges to be overcome, the commercialization of this technology may be closer than one imagines.
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