The future of solar energy: Five developments with enormous potential

Clean, cheap, abundant and sustainable energy. The first thing that comes to mind is solar energy, but the truth is that less than 2 percent of the world's energy is produced this way. We all agree that we need to improve that number, however, it's not just a matter of efficiency and cost, but also of availability, portability and storage. Below we're going to share five inventions that are already changing the solar equation today, and that could introduce even deeper changes in the near future.

Many people have managed to turn the dream of "home solar energy" into reality. The exact combination of general access, local subsidies and friendly laws can significantly increase adoption rates, while there are regions where the exact opposite happens, either due to prohibitive prices or absurd legislation. Our Spanish readers must remember very well the famous "sun tax", and personally I don't forget the madness of Nevada in late 2015, which was reversed in September the following year.

We know its benefits, but we don't use it enough. Solar energy needs to make an evolutionary leap, and that includes its "escape" from traditional formats. There are multiple lines of development, and today we're going to explore five of the most interesting. What does the future of solar energy promise us?

"Agrovoltaics"

It's not hard to imagine huge solar farms in open deserts with abundant sunlight, but our imagination betrays us: Heat is a natural enemy of panels, and for that reason they must be placed in precise locations with moderate climates. Agrovoltaics, that is, the installation of solar panels elevated above agricultural fields and greenhouses, provides a double solution: optimise the use of space, and keep solar panels in thermal equilibrium, thanks to the humidity released by plantations.

Added to this is 'floatovoltaics' (floating solar farms), which we've talked about in the past. Agrovoltaic installations proved to be 3 percent more efficient than their conventional counterparts. It doesn't seem like much, but the effects are cumulative.

"Photovoltaic trackers"

A solar panel that 'chases' the Sun. A simple idea, but with a more complex implementation than we think. Historically, photovoltaic tracking (also known as 'solar trackers') has been expensive and heavy, limiting installation possibilities, however, it makes more and more sense. A system of this type consumes between 5 and 10 percent of the energy it generates, but depending on the geographic location, a solar panel with a photovoltaic tracker could generate up to 45 percent extra energy.

"Solar windows"

One of the main complaints about solar panels is their appearance. Huge silicon rectangles that usually destroy any sense of aesthetics. But silicon is not the only option to generate solar energy. Solar cells made from organic components not only transform compatible surfaces into solar panels, but they are also semi-transparent, so they could be placed over traditional windows, allowing the passage of 43 percent of sunlight. Maybe it's not enough for a home, and there is some loss of efficiency, but solar cells are economical, and there are many buildings that could take advantage of them...

"Solar fabric"

The concept of a wearable device, taken to the extreme. How crazy does it sound to carry solar panels everywhere? I don't mean a backpack with a small exposed module, but cells woven into the fabric of clothing. In 2018, a team of British researchers created micro solar panels of 3 x 1.5 millimeters, barely larger than a flea. Their 200-cell prototype generated enough energy to charge a Fitbit. The most interesting thing is that solar fabric is not limited to ordinary clothing. Every tent, every cover, every flag is a solar panel in potential.

"Liquid solar energy"

We dedicated an entire article to this development at the end of last year. Generating more solar energy is always positive, but two drawbacks arise: storage and transportation. Liquid solar energy solves both with the help of a fluid that absorbs traditional solar energy, to be released later with the help of a catalyst. In initial tests, this fluid (based on the hydrocarbon norbornadiene) has shown extraordinary stability, enabling storage for a theoretical maximum of 18 years. This advantage could rewrite several rules in terms of heating, with closed cycles that get solar energy on rooftops and release it in different spaces.