Driving Towards a More Sustainable Future with Solar Photovoltaic Technology

Renewable energy sources such as solar remain at the top and continue to push the idea of using non-carbon-based fuels.

FREMONT, CA: Among all renewables, solar continues to lead the pack and push the switch to non-carbon-based fuels. Among all renewables, solar continues to lead the pack and push the switch to non-carbon-based fuels. Solar is the most cost-effective renewable energy source and is relatively easy to install. It is also becoming increasingly efficient, making it the most viable option for transitioning away from fossil fuels. This makes it the most popular and affordable renewable energy resource.

A recent breakthrough in solar technology has resulted in solar technology becoming the top choice for renewable energy.

Infra-red technology: Overcast skies and nightfall can make solar panels ineffective at harvesting clean energy, but the technology is efficient. Using infrared technology, a team of researchers at UNSW Sydney and the ARC Centre has found a way to make solar PV cells work even at night. Their infrared heat was converted into electricity using a thermos-radiative diode borrowed from night-vision goggles.

Perovskite: A breakthrough has been achieved by scientists who combined a thin layer of perovskite on top of solar cells to increase the absorption of blue light by up to 30 percent. Solar cells containing a perovskite-structured compound, usually a hybrid organic-inorganic lead or tin halide-based material, harvest light in perovskite solar cells. There is more energy in blue light than in red light. The new cell tandem enables blue light to be properly utilized, increasing its absorption power. Combining two different materials for solar PV could be the ultimate breakthrough. Research is developing fabrication techniques to overcome the disadvantages of instability and poor lifetime that threaten the commercial viability of this technology, despite promising breakthroughs in power conversion efficiency.

NREL: Solar PV efficiency was set for the first time by the US Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) - 39.5 percent of solar cells achieved their efficiency without being exposed to a concentrated light. NREL used inverted metamorphic multijunction cells (IMM) to achieve this feat. Due to their stackable design (GaInP/GaAs/GaInAs), these cells are more efficient in capturing light energy from different wavelengths. This technology has been developed specifically for commercial satellites, but it is also essential for terrestrial applications, such as utility-scale solar farms. This technology can help reduce operational and maintenance costs while boosting a solar array's output.

Transparent solar technology: Solar cells are transparent because they are photovoltaic glass. One of the biggest technological innovations of the 21st century is transparent solar technology, which can replace traditional solar panels as fine solar collectors. It's also known as solar glass, which can be a transparent solar collector in PV cells. It is possible to convert residential or commercial building windows into passive solar collectors, eliminating our dependence on the grid. Despite still being in their development stages, the advances in solar technology are truly remarkable. Government leaders and business leaders need to lend a hand to kickstart a solar revolution that will lead to energy efficiency and sustainability.