– Scientists are working on improving solar cells’ efficiency by concentrating more solar light onto them
– This approach was found to be difficult, so researchers are considering alternative ways to capture more solar energy
– Suggestions include creating flexible, semi-transparent solar panels that can be easily installed in various locations, as well as optimizing their arrangement for maximum sunlight absorption.
Scientists at the Cavendish Laboratory and AMOLF are exploring ways to improve solar energy capture. While attempting to make solar cells more efficient by concentrating more solar light onto them, they found it to be challenging. However, using machine learning models and AI, they discovered alternative methods to enhance solar energy capture globally. They suggest making solar panels flexible, semi-transparent, and foldable to increase durability and versatility, allowing for easy installation in various settings. Additionally, they propose patterning the solar capture devices to optimize sunlight absorption. This new approach holds the potential to improve the design of solar arrays and increase their effectiveness in harnessing solar energy. Their findings, published in the journal Joule, provide insights into different options for capturing solar energy beyond just improving the efficiency of solar cells with light. This research could pave the way for innovative solar harvesting pathways, including tessellation to capture more sun power. Ultimately, their work aims to make solar panels work effectively in diverse locations around the world.