You’ll have to go back all the way to 1839 for the introduction of solar energy. It was then that Edward Becquerel, a French physicist, discovered how to turn the rays of sunlight into usable electricity. Fast forward to the early 1950s and the creation of silicon-based panels was done giving society the energy-generating capacity it has today.
But the lovely fact about solar panels is that they evolve every day. At some point, there was no panel to begin with. But look around now and almost every rooftop has a grid or panels resting on it, changing the rays of the sun into usable electricity.
Even the concept of saving solar energy in batteries is a good example of the innovations happening in the solar industry. But what should you expect? Do solar panels work in winter UK folks? What are the latest trends to know about? How far has solar energy grown in recent years? Here are 3 that you need to know:
1. Solar Window
The first on the list is the combination of solar energy and window panes. Solar panels are already dominating the space but they won’t mind a little assistance from window panes. The concept is simple but when it becomes a reality, it’s certain to make solar energy more accessible and efficient.
So instead of your regular panels, the concept involves a photovoltaic glaze that’s attached to the windows. This glaze contains numerous solar cells but they differ in size and are smaller than cells found on regular panels.
Imagine being able to convert the sunlight that hits the window into usable electricity. Now that’s something to keep your eyes on.
2. Solar Paint
If you thought solar windows were intriguing, what about solar paint? Sounds mind-blowing just talking about it. Just think about the ability to generate power from a coat of paint and then think about when the entire home is covered with that solar paint. It’s truly an amazing concept.
The first type of solar paint is based on hydrogen generation. It works by using the heat from the sun to break down absorbed moisture into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen generated is then used as a power source. Photovoltaic paint is another example and it uses quantum dots which are essentially tiny semiconductors. Once applied on the surface, these dots capture light and convert it to energy.
3. Wasted-light solar
Only 40% of the light coming from the sun is visible. This is where the wasted light concept comes in. The goal here is to tap into the infrared light that no one else can see. By so doing, folks can look forward to increased solar energy output and longer energy usage.
It’s not a real concept yet but the potential is very high and with the right technology, it can make solar energy more accessible than it already is.
Wrapping Up
The three innovative concepts above are proofs of how far technology has become, most especially solar energy. It’s also a way to keep citizens evicted about the future and a reminder that solar energy is the go-to source for sustainable and renewable energy.