If the future does not surprise us with technologies disruptive, those that change everything in the production of green energy, solar has a great future. Above all, if we continue to harvest inventions like these, which manage to improve their efficiency in a way that does nothing unthinkable.
The first of them points to the stars. Not only because it is located in the heights, beyond the clouds, but also because it is a high-minded invention, with incredible potential that could revolutionize the landscape of green energy.
The second does not suppose big changes. Not apparently, at least. The difference is barely perceptible, but the small addition represents a difference that, according to forecasts, would reach an efficiency almost double that of today.
Electricity and hydrogen with floating panels
The first project referred to seeks that greater use of the solar energy with a double approach: obtaining hydrogen and electricity at the same time.
Highest efficiency pursued by this project transcends the traditional concept of solar panels by placing them in balloons at a great height. The objective is to avoid the clouds, so that the amount of sunlight received is greater, multiplying its performance.
Being up high, in hydrogen-filled balloons at an altitude of about 20 kilometers, means that the weather conditions do not interfere, thereby eliminating a factor that usually poses a serious problem.
Therefore, they are very ingenious, since the cells photovoltaic They can only take advantage of a part of the solar spectrum, let's make it larger in order to increase efficiency. Of course, once it is possible to increase their efficiency, the invention you could multiply your results.
In turn, researchers from NexPV, a laboratory in which the French National Center for Scientific Research and the University of Tokyo work, have devised a proposal that involves the connection of balloons through cables, for the production of electricity from Continuous form.
Although it is still just a project, those in charge of the French-Japanese laboratory are confident that they can make it happen. The prototype will be launched in 2022 and will continue to be refined based on its results.
Its great advantage? Up there, the source of solar energy that reaches the plates is five times more abundant than on the ground, while converting solar energy into hydrogen, so it does not need to be stored in batteries. Its main drawback? Perhaps possible accidents if the balloons break down or other risks associated with the proximity of the airspace and its real viability.
In its favor, the existence of projects carried out with balloons for altitudes even higher than 20 km that have proven to be viable. And why not, maybe this is just a first idea from which to work until you find the ideal formula.
The viability of the project, in addition, will depend on its cost, an aspect on which its inventors have not commented either. A price that will have to take into account infrastructure spending, maintenance Y durability. Key aspects about which nothing is known, probably because even they will not know at this point in the project.
Coating that nearly doubles the efficiency
The second of the inventions It is not so spectacular, but it is no less interesting for that. His proposal is to cover the glass of the solar panels with a special layer that increases its efficiency from almost any angle.
The material with which the plates are coated is a coating glass that can only be manufactured using nanotechnology. Specifically, it is about ultra-thin rods and a honeycomb-shaped structure.
The result is an increase in cell efficiency that continues to vary with angle, but with increased productivity ranging from 5 to 28 percent. In the long term, the researchers hope that the efficiency improvement could reach that 46 percent.
This increases productivity. That is, the amount of solar energy that each photovoltaic cell can take advantage of. In fact, until now one of the great drawbacks of solar panels is the impossibility of attracting the maximum amount of solar energy due to the movement of the sun and their position.
Although only part of it is used later, it is key that as much as possible arrives, although it does so irregularly throughout long of weather. Let us bear in mind that, in addition, we have to count on the added difficulty of its storage, the Achilles heel of both solar and wind energy.
Thanks to this invention by the King Absullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia, the innovative coating could increase efficiency by up to 46 percent.
In turn, the covering helps the Self-cleaning, largely responsible also for the fact that the productivity figure can almost double. With this, the efficiency and useful life of the equipment is gained.
As is known, the accumulation of dust also reduces the amount of sun that reaches and, therefore, reduces the productivity. An invention that is presented as an alternative to locating devices that change the position of the panels following the movement of the sun.
Its comparative advantage is not only to avoid additional devices, with the footprint that this implies when manufacturing and moving them or the added expense in infrastructure, maintenance and energy supply. The eternal controversy of where to direct them is also avoided.
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