New Solar Modules

New Solar Power - Where are We Going?

People instantly picture good old solar panels sitting on the roofs, or in the rural solar power plant. This is a legitimate justification, considering that rooftop solar panels and traditional utility-scale solar panels have controlled solar markets up to this point.

However, there are several promising and innovative solar power technologies that are in development or available for sale. These promising new technologies will change the way we think about solar energy in general. Solar energy does not require large property or roof space, and neither does this require a lot of space. Read on to find out more.

Floating solar farms (also known as floatovoltaics)

Every day, silicon panels are less expensive and have higher efficiency. Experts believe that photovoltaic panels installed on reservoirs or other water bodies will offer greater efficiency as well as a variety of other advantages.

Floatovoltaics,” also known as photovoltaic, are solar power systems that can be employed to build floating structures within dams or reservoirs.

Floating farms are capable of producing huge amounts of generating electricity without the need to use valuable land or real property. The cost of installation for the floating panels are less than land-based ones. Studies have also shown that floating solar panels are able to generate up to 10% more power due to the cooling effects of water.

A floating solar plant is able to generate clean solar energy and help manage water. Since they hinder air circulation and block sunlight from reaching the surface of the water floating solar farms help reduce energy loss and water loss due to evaporation. Floating solar farms can also help prevent the growth of harmful algae which lowers water treatment costs. Furthermore, the water that flows beneath the solar panel helps to keep them clean and reduces consumption.

At Napa Valley’s Far Niente winery, California was the first to set up the floating-panel system of 175 kWh.

Cost of deployment

As of 2014, the median national cost of solar installation was \$2.8 for each Watt (\$/w). The efficiency of solar panels is thought to be 20percent for 25 years. Floatovoltaics have a higher price over other renewable energy technologies like hydropower and wind power that have higher costs for land and could have negative environmental effects. The market for floating solar panels was valued at \$3.89m during 2014, and it is predicted to increase. In addition, floating solar panels are eligible to be eligible for federal or local grant incentive programs.

BIPV Solar Technology

Building-integrated photovoltaics as their name implies integrate seamlessly into building architecture. They can be utilized in roofing and canopy systems, curtain walls, facades skylight systems, as well as other types of roofing. BIPV, in contrast to traditional solar PV panels , can be stylish and are not a compromise to the building’s design.

For solar industry buyers it’s not enough just to be attractive. They must also consider the cost of purchasing solar panels on the market. BIPV solar panel systems are an excellent option for homeowners who want to reduce more energy consumption and construction materials costs. You can save money on mounting solar power costs by using BIPV instead of conventional building materials.

BIPV technology can be used to enhance the building’s facades as well as the atrium, terrace floor and canopies.

The photovoltaic components of solar PV glasses are utilized as building materials and allow natural light to illuminate homes and offices. They also serve as devices that generate energy.

Types and types of BIPV

Technically, BIPV is any construction material that is capable of producing solar energy. Here are some examples of BIPV technology:

Solar Panels for Roofs

Solar roofing is perhaps the most well-known type of BIPV. This kind of BIPV technology is also known by the names solar shingles and solar tiles. You can replace your roof with tiles or shingles by using the dual-purpose solar roofing material that produces electricity and serves as shelter.

While a solar roof can have many advantages however, it’s not as advanced as conventional solar panels. The main reason is that solar roofs aren’t able to provide the same level of efficiency as traditional monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels. In addition, solar roofs could be more expensive than roof solar panel installations.

Solar Cells Transparent glaze

Because the sun is more visible from buildings than roofs, why wouldn’t you take advantage of the space? While the geography of solar radiation will affect how much sunlight a building gets, there are often good exposures on one or more sides. Solar windows (or also called solar glass) are a kind of BIPV products popularly known on the market for solar products. They utilize ultra-thin solar panels that capture sunlight, yet maintain their the transparency of regular windows.

General building components

We don’t know of any other methods to integrate solar into structures so we’ll stick with “general elements” for the time being. These could include solar awnings, building facades or all other elements of structural design along the building’s sides that can be converted to solar-friendly. These solar-integrated building elements use organic solar cells as well as thinner-film solar panels much more frequently than rooftop solar.

There are pros and cons to using Building-integrated photovoltaics

Benefits of BIPV

BIPV has the obvious advantage of generating free solar energy. Solar energy is continuously hitting Earth enough to power the entire planet 10,000x. So every inch that we can utilize for electricity generation is an advantage.

BIPV is attractive for its aesthetics. BIPV lets you get solar power in a less invasive and more elegant way that solar panels. BIPV is a viable alternative for industrial and commercial structures. It lets you display your company’s innovative spirit and sustainability.

BIPV's negatives

BIPV is an integral part of the building. It is therefore important to plan ahead so that you can construct your building using BIPV solutions. To integrate solar-powered products it is vital to know what areas of sunlight are required prior to building any structure. Being aware of the fact that you are looking to incorporate solar power to your building will help lower the cost of building.

Solar skins

Solar skins let you incorporate custom designs into the solar panel system. Similar to bus windows advertising solar skins is the same.

Texas Solar Group is the producer of solar-skin products. It is currently conducting tests on its technology at the United States National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Because of the advances in selective light filtration solar thin-film sunscreens have high efficiency. The sun’s rays are filtered to penetrate the cells under solar skins. This allows it to show the image of your choice and also provide the solar energy.

These customized images embedded in solar panels can match exactly the rooftops or grassy lawns of your homes.

Panels with solar panels for skin are an excellent option for businesses and government offices. They can be customized to show company logos advertising flags of countries and more.

Solar skins are also designed to be smaller than traditional racking systems and hide metal components. The Texas Solar Group Solar Group’s Solar skins may provide the answer to your panel’s problems in appearance.

Texas Solar Group also allows you to track your system operation 24 hours a day via your smartphone. You will be notified if your system is experiencing any issues or in the case of an outage. The app will also suggest the correct remedies.

The downside to solar-skin panels lies in the solar installation costs. They’re around 10% more expensive than traditional panels.

Solar Skins Pros & Cons

There are some downsides to this product that you must consider. While this technology is appealing for concealing solar arrays, remains in its infancy to the world market. There are also some negative aspects. Before we dive into the cons of this product, however let’s take a look at the pros.

Solar Skin Pros

Solar skins are a great addition of your solar system since it blends in with the roofline. Solar skin can be used to transform your home into a work of art or turn your company’s roof into a space for advertising.

The benefits include the longevity promise resulting in the Fraunhofer, and Atlas testing. This product has a durable film that can last for 30+ years. It also offers solar panel reduction in glare.

Product testing covered cracking, dirt retention , as along with blistering, browning and yellowing. Also, it has been flash tested to ensure optimal light transmission.

Solar Skin’s Cons

The solar panel’s efficiency is the most prominent flaw in solar skin. Although this technology lets sunlight through, some aspects of UV radiation is blocked.

Think about the costs of adding solar skin to your array. Already, homeowners invest thousands of dollars in solar. This technology will increase that cost.

Finally, the applique is only covered for a period of ten year, despite having a 30-year warranty. The standard solar panel comes with an 25-year guarantee. But the solar skin may start to fade and possibly decrease module efficiency further before they reach the expected expiration date.

Solar fabric

Solar radiation is everywhere around the planet. Why not generate your own energy? Imagine the possibility of producing solar energy from any place on the planet, but at the same time, you’re moving through your clothes.

Researchers are creating solar fabrics with the goal of incorporating solar energy into every fiber. Solar filaments are able to be incorporated into t-shirts and winter coats and other clothes. They will help you stay warm, recharge your phone, and provide energy when you’re on the moving.

Research has attempted to combine solar fabric and solar panels in a variety of different areas.

Solar-fabricated clothing for your home is a fantastic way to save on costs for installation and mounting.

In addition, Texas Solar Group is working on the US Army project to develop solar-powered, robotic camping tents. As solar prices continue to fall and fall, it’s not difficult to imagine a world in which all power will come from the sun’s energy.

Solar Cell Fabric has Many Benefits

There are many other amazing benefits solar cell fabric could bring to your life. The list was created to reflect the needs of today’s people.

1. The ability for charging electronic devices

Imagine you are wandering around the city all day taking pictures with your smartphone and answering a few calls. You can also text, scroll through the feed of your favorite social network, and not have to think about whether your battery is low or where you can recharge your phone.

You always have the option of using a power storage device, though it’s also possible that you do not carry them around with you or charge them. If you wear clothes that have integrated solar cell technology, you’ll feel relaxed and calm all throughout the day. To allow these cells to function and produce electricity, you just need to have a bit of sunshine. After that, you can simply plug in your smartphone to the USB connector on the back of your clothes.

2. Lower electricity consumption

That’s why we’ll consume less energy if our phones don’t get charged at home, or in other places other than the solar panel fabrics. This patent will allow for a significant reduction in energy consumption if it is realized to its fullest potential.

Although it could appear that charging these tiny smart devices isn’t a big deal in the overall energy consumption but it’s actually the opposite. It’s a situation dependent on the amount.

While it’s not something you need to be concerned about, as a person however, you should know that charging your mobile for a whole period of time will not exceed one dollar since you will use 2 kWh in order to do it. How many phones are you using at home? Where are the tiny devices? Multiply this number with the number of people in the world.

3. Micro Size Solar Cells

This patent was required due to the fact that the cells have to be tiny enough that you do not feel their presence or their weight. This was one of the greatest challenges when creating this technology: making cells small enough to fit inside our clothes.

These cells are designed to be worn with fashionable, breathable clothing. The designers considered this when they designed the clothing. They modified and designed the entire collection in order to meet that standard. A research team from a university wanted information on how sustainable this idea is. It was also necessary to determine if these solar cells could be incorporated into normal fabric.

The cells they used were just 3mm by 1.5mm in size. However, they could confirm that the technology inside these cells is a real energy source despite the tiny size. They proved that these tiny solar bugs function as they should when test-driven. These solar bugs won’t cause any discomfort and will still be able charge your Fitbit and smartphone devices. The result is the product of testing 200 solar cells that generate 2.5 up to 10 Volts of power, with up to the range of 80 milliwatts.