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Time Business News
23-05-2025
- Time Business News
Innovations in Solar Panel Technology You Should Know About
The importance of solar energy in the fight against climate change cannot be overstated. Although improvements have been made in solar panel technology, conventional silicon-based solar cells generally achieve an efficiency rate of approximately 15-20%. This means a large portion of the sunlight they capture is wasted. The latest technologies in solar panels for homes are pushing beyond traditional silicon cells to increase efficiency, flexibility, smart integration, and new applications. The global demand for clean energy is growing, and we need solar panels that can generate more power from less space. Improved efficiency means that we can produce more electricity without requiring large land areas, which is especially important in densely populated or urban environments. Cost is one of the most significant barriers to the widespread adoption of solar energy. While the cost of solar panels has decreased dramatically in recent years, there is still room for improvement. In this blog, we will examine some of the most recent innovations in solar panel technology. Here we are providing you with some of the most talked-about technologies that are going to be changing the solar future completely. A solar panel that employs perovskite materials to capture light and produce electricity. They can absorb specific parts of sunlight, which is great for tandem cells. Chinese manufacturers like Jinko Solar have achieved significant milestones in perovskite-silicon solar cells. Researchers at the University of Oxford have created a power-generating substance using perovskite that is noted for being thin and flexible, making it suitable for application on everyday items like mobile phones and vehicles. This material has been independently verified to achieve an energy efficiency of over 27%. Benefits: High efficiency, Low cost, Simple manufacturing process, Lightweight and thin, and Color-adjustable. Performance Efficiency: up to 30%. Used in: Research and pilot-scale projects. Manufacturers using perovskite solar cells: Oxford PV, Saule Technologies, Swift Solar, Tandem PV. creator: Dennis Schroeder | Credit: Dennis Schroeder / NREL PERC is a solar panel technology that improves the efficiency of standard monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicon solar cells. It's one of the most widely used improvements in solar panels today. Traditional solar cells have: A silicon wafer (absorbs sunlight) Metal contacts (to carry electricity) A basic rear layer (to reflect some light) PERC cells improve this by adding an extra passivation layer on the back side of the cell. Reflects more sunlight into the cell. Reduces energy loss due to the recombination of electrons. Improves performance in low light and high temperature. Benefits: It produces 6 to 12% more energy than a conventional solar panel. Performance Efficiency: 20–22% Used in: Residential Solar Panels, Utility-Scale Solar Farms, and Off-Grid Applications. Common Manufacturers Using PERC: LONGi Solar, JA Solar, Trina Solar, JinkoSolar, LONGi Solar. They are capable of capturing sunlight from both the front and rear surfaces. The front side works like a normal solar panel, absorbing direct sunlight. The back side absorbs light that bounces off the ground, rooftops, water, or other surfaces. Often paired with monocrystalline technology. Benefits: Bifacial panels typically feature a more robust design and offer longer warranty periods. Their annual degradation rate ranges from 0.45% to 0.55%. Efficiency performance: Up to 30% greater than conventional panels. Used in: Utility-Scale Solar Farms, Commercial Rooftops. Common Manufacturers Using Bifacial Solar Panels: Jinko Solar, Canadian Solar, Hanwha Q-Cells It is an advanced type of solar cell designed to stack multiple layers of photovoltaic materials, each capturing different parts of the solar spectrum. Chinese manufacturers like Jinko Solar have achieved significant milestones in tandem solar cell efficiency. In January 2025, JinkoSolar reported a 33.84% efficiency for these cells, as confirmed by the Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Benefits: Less space needed on rooftops or in solar farms, more consistent performance across lighting conditions Performance efficiency: higher More consistent performance across lighting conditions Used in: High-Efficiency Research & Development, Space Applications A quantum dot solar cell is an advanced type of solar cell that uses quantum dots—tiny semiconductor particles just a few nanometers in size—to convert sunlight into electricity. Benefits: It could be super lightweight, semi-transparent, and more efficient in low light. Performance efficiency: 18-19% Used in: Low-Light / Indoor Solar Applications, Flexible & Wearable Electronics A transparent solar panel is a solar technology that produces electricity while allowing light to pass through. Benefits: Dual Functionality, Space-Saving, Eco-Friendly Design Performance efficiency: Around 20-30% used in: Windows, phone screens, and even car sunroofs. It Involves Cadmium Telluride (CdTe), Amorphous Silicon (a-Si), and CIGS (Copper Indium Gallium Selenide) Benefits: Lightweight, flexible, easy to install on irregular surfaces Performance efficiency:10–17% Used in: Portable solar, vehicles It involves installing solar panels on a structure that floats on a body of water like a lake, reservoir, or even the ocean, offering a sustainable alternative to land-based solar farms. The global floating solar market is experiencing significant growth, and experts say it could surpass 10 GW of capacity by 2030. Benefits: Saves Land Space, great for countries with limited area, ideal for urban area or agricultural regions Performance efficiency: Water helps cool the panels, improving energy output (up to 10–15% more efficient) Used in: municipal water reservoirs(Examples:Singapore's Tengeh Reservoir (60 MW system), California's water treatment reservoirs), Agricultural Irrigation Ponds, Industrial Water Bodies Smart solar technology refers to solar power systems that use digital intelligence, like AI (Artificial Intelligence), IoT (Internet of Things), and automation, to make solar energy more efficient, flexible, and user-friendly. AI(artificial intelligence) in solar: AI Solar refers to the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to optimize solar power systems. It makes solar setups smarter, more efficient, and self-managing. Predicts solar energy production based on weather data, sun patterns, and past performance. Detects faults, shading issues, or panel degradation in real time. AI can process vast amounts of data from solar farms more quickly than a human team Learn when energy is used most in homes or businesses. AI-guided robots or alerts notify when panels need cleaning or fixing. IoT technology(internet of things): IoT solar technology integrates solar power systems with the Internet of Things (IoT). Every part of your solar system is smart, connected, and automated. A heterojunction solar panel is a high-efficiency solar technology combining two types of silicon (crystalline silicon and amorphous silicon ) into one cell. Huasun Solar – currently among the biggest HJT producers Benefits: Low Degradation Rate, Excellent Temperature Performance, Performance efficiency: boosts performance, especially regarding efficiency(20-30%) Used in: Residential Rooftop Installations, Utility-Scale Solar Farms, High-Temperature Regions The innovation in solar technology is how and where solar power can be used, making clean energy more accessible and adaptable to different environments, from rooftops and deserts to wearable tech and space missions. In this new age of sustainable energy, these latest innovations in solar technology are a driving force to make solar power more efficient, versatile, and integral to the future of global energy systems. As innovation continues, Solar panels are an important part of clean energy around the world and a critical tool in the fight against climate change. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Zawya
06-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Aed Energy accelerates technology commercialisation With key appointment
Aed Energy, a leading developer of next class long-duration thermal energy storage systems, has appointed Dr. David Bushnell as Head of Product Development. This appointment supports Aed Energy's strategic mission to accelerate clean, affordable energy by advancing its core technology from pilot systems to commercial deployment. David holds a PhD in III-V photovoltaics and brings over two decades of experience in semiconductor and photovoltaics technology development. He has held senior roles in two pioneering energy startups, including his most recent position at Oxford PV, where he led device performance testing and research and development operations in advanced photovoltaics. An accomplished technologist with a focus on advanced technology, product development, and integrated software systems, David will oversee the strategic planning, design, and execution of Aed Energy's product development roadmap. This includes a central role in advancing its MWh-scale thermal battery from pilot to commercial readiness. Reflecting on his appointment, David said: 'I'm thrilled to join the Aed Energy team at such an exciting time. I'm deeply aligned with the company's mission to combat the climate crisis through no-nonsense engineering and innovation. I look forward to working with the team to bring this transformative storage technology to market and support the global shift to clean, sustainable energy.' Commenting on the appointment, CEO, Rayan Kassis said: 'David's addition to the leadership team comes at a pivotal moment in our growth. His extensive technical knowledge and leadership experience combined with his proven track record in taking innovative energy technologies from concept to product will be instrumental in commercially scaling our technology to meet global energy demands. Headquartered in London, Aed Energy is pioneering the next generation of thermal energy storage and power systems. Its breakthrough solution uses low-cost, abundant materials and a proprietary heat-to-power conversion technology to deliver both heat and electricity. Designed for flexibility across grid-scale storage, renewable energy integration, combined heat and power (CHP), and industrial heat processes, Aed Energy's system offers long-duration performance and a cost-competitive alternative to fossil fuels and lithium-ion batteries - helping to accelerate the global transition to affordable, clean energy. Issued on behalf of TWMA by ThinkPR.
