Advances in the efficiency and energy production of solar panels are
needed to increase the devices as viable alternative energy sources. A
team of engineers at MIT may have just made that breakthrough, creating solar panel towers that can increase energy output by more than 20 times!
The out-of-the-box solution was to focus not on making the cells more
efficient but rather perfecting the arrangement of the solar panels. Of
the different environments the cells were tested under, they performed
best in places far from the equator and on cloudy days as compared to
traditional solar panels. This new concept was just published in a paper
in the journal Energy and Environmental Science.
I think this concept could become an important part of the future of photovoltaics.~ Jeffrey Grossman, Senior Author
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| Photo courtesy: Allegra Boverman |
In true engineering spirit, the team first built a computer algorithm to
analyze the best layout of solars cells to maximize output in various
environments. Not only does the new layout increase output, but it makes
the cells less susceptible to changes in cloud cover and seasons
meaning a more uniform energy production rate. There is one down side
however, due to their obvious increased structural design needed to
implement the panels, they cost much more than a tradition Photovoltaic
(PV) setup. This increased cost is far outweighed by the additional more
steady energy production, so the design still has potential.
As each cell is not simply angled in one
direction, the towers can collect energy uniformly at all times of the
day so there is the same amount of energy produced in the morning as
high noon.
The cost for silicon cells is a fraction of the total cost, a trend that will continue downward in the near future. ~ Grossman
The time is right for this innovation as
the cost of solar cells continue to drop with the advances in efficiency
and production. Solar cells will eventually become cheap enough that
when coupled with this vertical layout, energy production can be maximized and sustained.
The tower structure that proved most efficient was designed to be able
to be closed and shipped flat then quickly assembled onsite. Portability
of large scale PV cells would allow for larger gatherings and even
industrial work to be sustained further from access to the power grid.
Solar energy has a bright future across the
world and with continued advancements in efficiencies and layout
structure can become a sustainable energy source.