New Technology: Increased Solar Efficiency Solar technology is constantly under revision as new techniques and materials are developed making this source of energy a viable option for governments, companies, and individuals. A newly developed heat-resistant material vastly improves the efficiency of solar panels by converting heat from the sun (high energy lights) into infrared light which can be absorbed by the solar cells and converted into electricity. This is a huge step forward in thermophotovoltaics as previous experiments in the field failed to produce any worthy results. The technology consists of small tabs that sit on top of the solar panels. The tabs have two parts: The absorber and the emitter. Early versions of these tabs or thermal emitters would fall apart before reaching noteworthy temperatures of 2200 degrees Fahrenheit but the new technology can withstand temperatures of 2500 degrees while still functioning correctly. The use of thermophotovoltaics increases the efficiency of current solar cells by increasing the span of light that can be converted. Traditional cells can only convert Infrared light into electric current while higher energy light was wasted as heat and lower energy light passed through the cells untouched. This new technology adds onto the current system by placing an intermediary between the sunlight and the solar cells.
The Intermediary The intermediary component absorbs light heating up and then converts the heat to infrared light which can be picked up by the solar cells. Theoretically this raises a solar cells efficiency from a high of 34 percent to 80 percent. Eight percent of sunlight touching a solar panel is converted to energy. With such an increase in efficiency the effectiveness of traditional solar cells like Helios 310 watt panels increases dramatically making them cost-effective at the same time. However the technology is not near that point yet. Currently the efficiency of the system is around 8 percent. The intermediary component is generally made of tungsten which is destroyed at temperatures of 1800 degrees but researchers have layered the tungsten emitters in a layer of ceramic material which allowed the tungsten to withstand 1800 degrees for twelve hours before losing structural integrity. At 2500 degrees the emitter functioned for a complete hour. The tungsten covered in ceramic was still capable of producing infrared light from the heat absorbed making the technology potentially viable.
Stepping Forward While this may not appear too exciting at first glance it represents a huge step forward in thermophotovoltaics. Tungsten and other similar materials like Hafnium are abundant and low cost. The focus is now on producing a thin ceramic layer that will allow the emitter to withstand high temperatures for extended periods of time. With the process of coating established it is hopefully a matter of years before a coating is developed to protect the emitters. The Solar world is constantly seeing new developments making solar energy cheaper and more efficient eventually to challenge the use fossil fuels as the dominant source of energy. The developments in the area of themophotovoltaics represent a future of highly efficient, cost-effective panels that can be created from common materials and used in everyday life. With such advances in materials, methods, and size of panels you have to wonder what technology will be developed next. Photo Credit: Living Off Grid , Activ Solar,