The Transformative Journey of Solar Energy

The Transformative Journey of Solar Energy

The solar industry's journey from experimental beginnings to an integral part of daily life is marked by ongoing innovation. Despite its long history, technological advancements continue to shape its trajectory.

Historical Evolution:

• Solar energy's origins trace back to 1839 when Alexandre-Edmond Becquerel discovered the photovoltaic effect, laying the foundation for solar cell development.
• In 1954, Bell Labs introduced the first practical silicon solar cell with 6% efficiency, initially used for space applications.
• The 1970s saw the expansion of solar cell availability for terrestrial use, driven by concerns about fossil fuels and pollution.
• The oil crisis in the 1970s propelled interest in renewable sources, with global governments investing in solar technology and promoting solar installations.
• Over time, advancements in solar cell technology have increased efficiency and reduced costs, making solar power accessible.
• Presently, solar panels can convert around 20-24% of sunlight into electricity, with potential for further innovation.

Continued Progress:

• In 1999, TATA Power Solar energised Asia's largest telescope in Hanle, J&K, for the Indian Institute of Astrophysics using a 31.5 kWp SPV hybrid power plant. With 23 years passed, TATA's legacy continues, including their recent accomplishment: the creation of India's First Mono Perc Cell.
• Concentrating on utility, commercial, and industrial generation projects, Aderis offers solutions, including monitoring, power plant control, and storage integration.
• The global floating solar market is projected to exceed 6 gigawatts by 2031, driven by limited land availability and rising costs for ground-mount solar projects.
• Floating installations address land constraints in densely populated urban areas.
• Anti-soiling technology, addressing the accumulation of particles on solar modules, has shown potential for enhancing PV system efficiency.
• A practical study demonstrated improved efficiency gains from coated PV panels under challenging conditions.

Future Prospects:

• Continued technological developments in solar cells, bifacial panels, advanced coatings, and enhanced energy storage integration hold promise for significant advancements.
• Incremental improvements in solar power components, such as increased energy output per unit area, improved trackers, and better pairing with energy storage, will contribute to substantial progress.

In conclusion, innovation has marked the solar industry's evolution from its early days to the present. Ongoing advancements and potential breakthroughs in various aspects of solar technology underscore its role in shaping a cleaner and more sustainable energy future.

Source: Clean Technica

Innovations Driving the Solar Industry’s Growth and Sustainability

Advancements in solar technology, including perovskites, heterojunction solar cells, and energy storage systems, are propelling the solar power industry's growth. Despite the pandemic, the sector is surging as nations set decarbonisation goals and companies pursue sustainability. Key developments are:

Energy Storage Integration: Energy storage is crucial for Solar’s value. Reliable, cost-effective storage solutions are sought, boosted by government incentives like investment tax credit extensions.

Defect Detection: Research into defects in silicon solar cells is improving efficiency and stability. Light-induced degradation challenges are being addressed through collaborative efforts.

High-Efficiency Solar Cells: N-type solar cells, like TOPCon and heterojunction, are gaining traction for enhancing PV panel efficiency. JinkoSolar, LONGi, and Oxford PV are pushing crystalline silicon technology boundaries.

Advanced Tracking and Racking: Solar trackers and innovative racking enhance energy production. Nextracker's NX Horizon uses smart control software and algorithms for improved output.

Storage for Residential Solar: Residential solar integrates energy storage for backup power during outages. Products such as Tesla's Powerwall and Generac's PWRgenerator enhance system resilience.

Global Growth and Collaborations: Collaborations, like those led by NREL, drive solar technology solutions.

The industry's future growth curve will be shaped by efficiency gains, storage integration, and collaborative efforts, leading to increased adoption and growth.

Source: Power Mag

HIPERION will Revolutionise Solar Panel Technology

The EU-funded HIPERION project combines concentration photovoltaics and micro-tracking with ultra-high-efficiency space-grade solar cells to increase energy efficiency by up to 40%. Panels use integrated optics to concentrate sunlight onto small space-grade cells, achieving a 200x concentration factor, making costly Multi-Junction (MJ) solar cells viable for non-space applications.

Equipped with a micro-tracking system, panels work at various angles for continuous energy generation. Addressing cloudy weather efficiency, HIPERION adds a layer of crystalline solar cells behind the transparent plane of MJ cells, merging concentration and conventional photovoltaics for uninterrupted energy output.

The standard-structured HIPERION modules demonstrate viability in pilot sites, with applications in populated areas, zero-energy buildings, and solar carports. The project establishes a metrology standard for hybrid module power rating, ensuring uniform evaluation of electrical performance. Pilot site data will assess reliability and energy gains, guiding future development. HIPERION's technology holds promise for shaping renewable energy production's future.

Source: Innovation News Network

Karnataka Student’s Invention ‘Solar Crop Dryer’ is Making Waves

Students from Government High School, Niluvagilu, Chikkamagaluru, achieved first place in the Karnataka School Innovation Programme 2022-23 grand finale at Christ University. They designed an eco-friendly solar crop dryer for small and large farmers. The dryer's unique structure allows sunlight to penetrate and raise the temperature to around 60 degrees Celsius, facilitating the drying of crops like arecanut.

Adyathma Gowda H.V., a team member, mentioned that they developed the concept using locally available materials on a low budget. The solar crop dryer can also protect crops from unseasonal rain, benefitting a range of produce like coconut, pepper, cardamom, ginger, coffee, and more.

The initiative, supported by the State government, UNICEF, YuWaah, Inqui-Lab Foundation, and Seventh Talent Solutions, promotes innovative thinking among students in alignment with the National Education Policy. Shalini Rajaneesh,

Source: The Hindu

Did you know?

Solar power dates to over 2700 years ago. In 700 BC glass lenses were used to make fire by magnifying the sun’s rays. Greeks and Romans created buildings with south facing windows to allow the sun to heat and light indoor spaces.

The Ancestral Puebloans in North America demonstrated early solar use through their adobe homes designed to align with the sun's path. This achieved effective passive solar heating, ensuring comfort in arid climates.

The first silicon solar cell was built by Bell Labs in 1954.

In essence, the history of solar power spans millennia, highlighting humanity's enduring quest to harness the sun's energy for both practical and ecological purposes.

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Solar Energy - Groundbreaking Milestones and Challenges

Solar power cells have achieved a groundbreaking milestone by surpassing 30% energy efficiency, a feat hailed as "revolutionary" and poised to accelerate the adoption of more efficient and cost-effective solar power. This development comes at a crucial time as the installation rate of solar energy must substantially increase to address the climate crisis. Here's an overview of upcoming milestones and challenges in the field of Solar Energy:

●??The breakthrough involves layering perovskite on traditional silicon cells, capturing a wider spectrum of light for enhanced energy absorption.

●??Recent advancements have propelled tandem cells beyond 30%, with potential commercial availability within five years.

●???Urgent need to increase solar power capacity to combat climate change; overcoming the 30% efficiency threshold boosts confidence in high-performance, low-cost photovoltaics.

●???Challenges include scaling up tandem cells to commercial dimensions and addressing stability and degradation over time.

●???Despite other high-efficiency technologies like multi-junction cells, their high production costs limit practical applications.

●???Solar power cell efficiency breakthrough offers a promising path to sustainable and widespread renewable energy adoption.

Source: The Guardian

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