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New Material Developed in Saudi Arabia Enables Passive Cooling of Solar Panels, Increases Efficiency, Reduces Costs and Prolongs Lifespan
Solar energy faces a well-known challenge: the overheating of panels. More than 75% of solar installations worldwide use cells that convert only 20% of sunlight into electricity. The rest is lost as heat or reflection, harming efficiency and accelerating equipment wear.
To tackle this problem, an international team led by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia created an innovative material. It promises to enhance the performance and durability of solar panels without the need for additional electricity.
The new material consists of a cheap acrylic polymer and lithium chloride. Its main feature is being hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs moisture from the air at night and releases it during the day. This process allows for the passive cooling of solar panels.
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During tests conducted in the Saudi desert, panels with the new coating recorded a temperature reduction of 9.4 °C compared to conventional panels.
This cooling resulted in a 12% increase in electricity production and tripled the lifespan of the panels. Additionally, the cost of energy generation was reduced by 20%.
Tests were also conducted in cold and rainy regions of the United States. In these conditions, the material demonstrated similar efficiency, proving its ability to operate in different climates and establishing itself as a global solution.
The material has other important advantages. It does not require the use of fans, pumps, or active cooling systems, which consume energy and require constant maintenance.
Its manufacturing is simple and does not use toxic chemicals or specialized industrial processes. Moreover, it can be easily applied to existing solar installations.
The project was led by Professor Qiaoqiang Gan, an expert in materials that promote passive cooling in various applications, such as greenhouses and electronic devices.
The research also involved collaboration with Professor Stefaan De Wolf’s laboratory, known for its advancements in photovoltaic efficiency. Together, they validated the technology under real and extreme conditions.
The adoption of this material could have a positive impact on the environment. With the extended lifespan of panels, the need for frequent replacements decreases, reducing the generation of electronic waste, the consumption of raw materials, and the emissions associated with the production of equipment.
Furthermore, the innovation allows for the expansion of solar energy in regions with extreme climates, where the technology was previously unfeasible. It also offers a safe alternative for industrial thermal applications, replacing polluting materials such as asbestos.
The creation of this material represents a significant advancement in making solar energy more efficient, economical, and sustainable on a global scale.
With information from EcoInventos.
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