Company develops vacuum solar tube capable of producing electricity four times more efficiently than traditional solar panels

A UK company has developed a kind of solar tube that acts like a thermos and can generate energy up to 4 times more efficiently than ordinary solar panels.

A Naked Energy, a company that operates in the renewable energy market based in the United Kingdom, is developing a vacuum solar tube for roofs. The product can generate power and heat and will soon enter the US solar panel market. The company is being backed by ELM Companies, based in Peoria, Illinois, a US energy storage and microgrid specialist, alongside banking giant Barclays and US venture capital firm Big Sky Partners.

Vacuum solar tube works like a thermos

ELM Solar, a new division of the company, will be responsible for distributing Naked Energy's solar thermal and photovoltaic thermal products, called Virtu. The division will also be responsible for distributing Virtu products through the ELM Companies' large US network of resellers and partnerships.

The company even announced that it will build a production facility in Texas to assemble Naked Energy's Virtu product line domestically, after the US Senate passed the Biden Administration's climate bill, called Reducing Inflation, a few weeks ago. This law is fueling a race in the US for the generation of renewable energy internally, such as energy from solar panels.

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The solar tube is made up of two layers of glass with a vacuum in the middle, similar to a thermos. Naked Energy claims its solar energy products are three to four times more efficient than ordinary solar panels, and ELM calls the company the developer of the world's highest energy density solar technology in its news announcement.

Solar tube has lower installation price compared to solar panels

Naked Energy claims that the solar tube in its Virtu products reduces thermal losses to the atmosphere, resulting in greater efficiency, even on cold days. The solar panels on the tubes are slanted at a perfect angle so they can be used on pitched or flat roofs, as well as on vertical facades.

Virtu products are fully modular, so they have a low installation cost. These also feature a low-profile design that eases wind shear. The UK company also claims that the solar panels are best suited for buildings with high heat demand, such as multi-family homes, hotels and factories.

VirtuHOT heats only water, up to 90ºC, using solar energy. However, VirtuPVT combines solar photovoltaic and solar thermal technology to generate electricity and heat through a single solar collector. Obviously, the VirtuPVT tubes require less space than if there were separate photovoltaic and thermal systems being used.

Technology emerges after significant increase in US demand

According to the president and founder of ELM, Lee C Graves, it was possible to notice a significant increase in interest in clean energy technologies such as solar energy in the USA.

Due to the increase in the value of energy, he says that it was a great pleasure to work with Naked Energy to provide the country with renewable alternatives. 

Naked is a diverse team of engineers, innovators and scientists committed to changing the energy industry forever. His experience in creative and technical industries gives him a solid foundation for clean energy design and innovation.

Source: Naked Energy