The Latest Advances in Solar Panel Technology

In this post, we take a detailed look at five solar technologies that will have the most lasting impact on the solar installation industry over the coming years.

When most people hear the phrase “solar power,” images of classic solar panels on rooftops or in a solar farm in the desert are immediately conjured up, and with good reason: indeed, traditional utility-scale and rooftop solar panels have dominated the solar installers market up until now.

But several exciting new technologies, either in the pipeline or already on the market, have made movers and shakers of the industry sit up and take notice, and The Energy Company believes these promising technologies will revolutionize the way we think about not just solar – but energy production in general.

The Energy Company Fun Fact: Solar no longer requires large parcels of land or roof space, nor does it need to exhibit a “boring” appearance.

The following represent our picks of the solar power technology to keep an eye on.

• Floating Solar Farms – Also known as “floatovoltaics,” these solar power systems were created for floating on reservoirs, dams and other bodies of water, offering even greater efficiency as well as a myriad of other benefits. Aside from producing clean solar power, floating solar farms can help with water management, as well.
• BIPV Solar Technology – Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), as its namesake suggests, seamlessly blend into building architecture in the form of roofs, canopies, curtain walls, facades and skylight systems; yet unlike traditional solar PV panels, BIPV can be aesthetically appealing rather than represent a compromise to a building’s design.
• Solar Skins – This novel PV technology integrates custom designs into solar panel systems, similar to the ad wraps displayed on bus windows. Sistine, the manufacturer of solar skins, is testing the technology at the United States Renewable Energy Laboratory to increase its efficiency, but what’s important to note is that solar thin-film skins already maintain high efficiency due to its selective light filtration advancements. As a result, it simultaneously displays custom images while providing solar energy, and these imprinted custom images embedded into solar panels can precisely match your grassy lawns or your home’s rooftop.
• Solar Fabric – Researchers are developing solar fabrics with a vision of including solar power in each fiber, these solar filaments able to be imbedded into t-shirts, winter coats or any other item of clothing to do everything from help keep you warmer to powering your phone and providing energy for other needs while you’re on the go.
• Photovoltaic Solar Noise Barriers (PVNB) – The U.S. Department of Energy has been working on a fusion of noise abatement and sustainable power generation, the potential of producing solar energy from this mating likely to reach 400 gigawatt hours (GWh) annually – this is approximately equal to the annual electricity usage of 37,000 homes.

The future of solar looks bright, and we would love to tell you all about it. Contact The Energy Company at (888) 503-0805 to keep yourself updated on new developments in solar technology.