Solar panels have become one of the elements with greater presence in homes and different buildings, both in the city and in the countryside, as undoubtedly take advantage of sunlight to get energy for free has many advantages. We show you the super solar panels that you can install in your home and that work both at night and if there is a storm and the sun shines by its absence… they are perfect!
An invention that has changed everything: Free, clean energy from the Sun
Solar panels are an intermediate element that makes sunlight serve as energy, having a very simple but very effective design. They allow self-consumption, which promotes sustainability to the maximum, thus protecting the planet from continuing with the mistreatment that involves so much electricity consumption.
The use of solar energy is growing in interest in America with each passing year, and by the end of 2023 there were millions of solar panels covering homes and communities across the country.
The super solar panels that you can put at home: More efficient than conventional silicon cells
Thanks to solar energy you can save a lot on the electricity bill, practically leave it to a minimum, which will be a relief for the budget of any home. In this sense, solar panels are one of the best options on the market, and it is a sector that is constantly evolving. Although solar energy was originally collected exclusively during the day, some models are beginning to be seen that also work at night thanks to accessories or additional technologies.
Thanks to research carried out by Stanford University, a group of experts has found a way to modify the design of conventional solar panels so that they can also generate electricity at night. The study was published by researcher Sid Assawaworrarit and other members of the team and was entitled “Nighttime power generation at a density of 50 mW/m² by radiative cooling of a photovoltaic cell”.
The secret, the thermoelectric effect: Experts are on edge with what they have discovered
The objective of this study was to demonstrate that semiconductors can be used to modify the function of silicon solar panels, so that they can also provide energy at night and not only during daylight hours. To achieve this it would be necessary to use a thermoelectric generator, which has a system capable of transforming temperature changes into electricity and would function as an intermediary between the photovoltaic cells and the ambient air, generating the electric current necessary for its use and exploitation.
According to the tests carried out in this study, the researchers found that the thermoelectric generator produced only 1% of the current generated by a conventional solar panel during daylight hours, while at night this figure rose to 40%. There is no doubt that the results of the study are promising, although those responsible for the study make it clear that the system is not yet ready for mass production.
The proven power density is very interesting in nighttime lighting conditions, as the researchers detail: “Due to the long lifetime of thermoelectric generators, our proposed configuration may have lower long-term maintenance costs compared to battery storage. The demonstrated power density is already interesting for night lighting applications. Our design can also power sensors in remote locations, reducing the size or eliminating the need for battery storage.”
The photovoltaic industry is advancing by leaps and bounds, so much so that you can even have these small solar panels to take with you wherever you need them conveniently.
