Climate changes effects: Floating & Topcon cell technology

The ground-mounted solar panels have the advantage of convective airflow cooling the plants naturally, this is missing in most roof-top installations which are more affected by the increase in temperature, as observed during the practice. In addition, the floating solar is a good response to heat. “It performs better in increased heat conditions because water vapor acts as a natural coolant and power generation is not as affected,” he said. It also has the additional advantage of not needing land, thereby reducing land-use conflicts and environmental degradation. Floating solar has no shadowing effect either, making them more efficient in power generation.

The new trend insists the replacing the existing technology used in the PV sector with TOPCon technology which is more efficient. The tunnel oxide passivated contact solar cells, also known as?TOPCon, are the latest buzzword in the solar sector. "In this technology, tunnel oxide and polysilicon layers are added to the rear side of the solar cells to improve efficiency and these cells are said to have better resistance to high temperatures", said Jeet Acharya ?? . Solar manufacturers have only started using TOPCon since 2019.

Studies?have also suggested the application of?phase change material?(PCM) as a viable strategy for reducing and managing the temperatures of PV panels and for increasing the electrical energy efficiency of the system. Phase change materials are used in energy systems to provide cooling. A?2023 study?finds that PCM cooling has a positive short-term influence on the performance of PV panels, with an improvement in predicted efficiency.

Other well-discussed solutions include constructing panels with light-colored materials to reduce heat absorption and moving components like inverters and combiners into shaded areas.

Apart from the infrastructure and engineering challenges, heatwaves also impact the health and safety of the workforce, which is not often addressed.?World Health Organization?has warned that global population exposure to heat is increasing due to climate change. Continuous exposure to excessive heat can lead to heatstroke with fatal outcomes and the people installing solar panels and those working in solar farms are also at risk. “Heatwaves” have a wider impact on communities living in these (high temperature) areas, resulting in temporary or permanent out-migration or a significant impact on health.

The International Labour Organization, in a?2019 report, states that temperatures above 24-26°C are associated with reduced labor productivity, and at 33-34°C, 50 percent of a laborer’s work capacity is lost. Projections based on a global temperature rise of 1.5°C by the end of the 21st century, and also on labor force trends, suggest a productivity loss of 2.2%, equivalent to 80 million full-time jobs in 2030. In South Asia, which is estimated to be one of the most affected sub-regions, the loss is 5.3%, corresponding to around 43 million full-time jobs.

While the country steers ahead in its goal to achieve its clean energy targets, experts say that it is important to consider the health of both the human and the machine in the changing climate, to ensure that solar energy productivity is long-term and sustainable.