Dyeing to Boost Solar Efficiency by 50%
MIT has perfected a dye technology that could change the solar world as we know it.
The most efficient form of solar technology today is (arguably) extreme concentrated photovoltaics, essentially solar panels placed under a magnifying glass. But the problem with these systems is heat.
Concentrated sunlight can melt silicon solar panels unless you include specialized cooling systems. Cooling technology costs money, and the panels require expensive tracking mechanisms to follow the sun through the day. MIT’s new solar system bypasses the heat and tracking problems all together.
Thin coatings of organic dyes absorb sunlight and redirect favored wavelengths into a pane of glass. The light is aimed and concentrated towards the edge of the pane where small solar panels are located. The concentrated light allows the panels to produce the maximum possible amount of energy all day, every day without cooling systems or complex tracking mechanisms.
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The idea is not new, but its founders in the 70s could not overcome technical challenges. The technology was abandoned when research funding dried up. Their dyes were unstable, and their optical experise was imperfect. Much of the light captured and concentrated into their glass or plastic was lost before it could reach the solar cells. MIT took tips from laser technology and organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) to perfect the technology. Their expertise increased the distance light can travel through glass or plastic to reach the solar panels, boosting energy production.
“In addition, the focused light increases the electrical power obtained from each solar cell “by a factor of over 40.”" According to Marc A Baldo, an associate professor at MIT who helped lead the project. For more technical details, you may need an AAAS membership to read the Science article.
Three Reasons Why This Could Rock the Solar World:
1) It’s Easy: The technology is neither complex or difficult to manufacture. All you need is a window frame laced with solar panels and an ordinary pane of glass or plastic. Apply the proper ratios of organic dyes and you’re ready to go. The finished product looks like smoked glass and could be used on rooftops or solar farms. Future improvements could bring them to ordinary windows. Hopefully it will be competitive in price with other solar technologies.
2) Upgrade Existing Solar: This technology can be applied to existing photovoltaic panels to boost their efficiency by as much as 50% with minimal additional cost. Upgrading existing solar panels will not only boost their energy output, but shift their cost/energy ratios. That means that even older, more expensive solar installations could become more competitive with non-renewable energy sources.
3) It’s Coming Soon: MIT claims this technology could be ready for commercial production within three years. A company has already been founded to capitalize on the technology, and it won two prizes at MIT’s Enterpreneurship Competition, totaling $30,000. They will also seek more investment over the next few months. Keep your eyes peeled for Covalent Solar.
But nothing is certain. Like any new technology, this one has its challenges ahead. The dyes, for example, have a demonstrated lifespan of ten years, but most solar panels come with twenty or twenty-five year warranties. Covalent Solar must also run the gamut of any fledgling business to bring their product to market. With so many improving and emerging solar technologies, they will face a lot of competition.
What makes this technology different is its implications for existing solar installations and expansion into new spaces. A window that helps power a building could become a powerful tool towards super-efficient or power-producing structures. The potential for low cost, high efficiency solar technologies has never been greater.
Images via the MIT website
More on Solar Power:
- Another Efficient Form of Solar
- How About Cheap or Free Solar?
- Solar is Good for the Economy..
- …and the Power Grid
Great news! If their product is cheap enough, a ten year lifespan shouldn’t be a hindrance. Especially if it’s a dye coating on the glass that breaks down.
You could conceivably just strip and recoat your panels, just like you paint your house.
Go MIT!
Question. Why don’t we combine solar technology with wind farms? That is, why don’t we line the blades with solar panels?
“A window that helps power a building could become a powerful tool towards super-efficient or power-producing structures.”
As I understand it the frosted glass just sits on top of the panels right? So how is this going to become a window that helps power a building? Are we just going to have very dark offices with the backside of solar panels as your outside view?
Cool! I can’t wait to see the day that solar energy will take over the conventional forms of energy. If this new technology can make it into buildings downtown (where buildings covered in glass is the new thing)… lets just say we wont really need coal all that much anymore.
I’ll defiantly be first in line for a solar panel (if I have the money of course).
Eric-
Wind turbines are sited to maximize the wind resources of the land. Many turbines will turn to capture more wind energy.
Solar energy can be maximized in different ways than wind energy. For example, a wind turbine might face west in the morning when the sun is rising in the east.
The two technologies however can compliment each other well however. There can be strong winds after dark or little wind at high noon.
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so is this a genuine advancement or just the latest of a 1000 stories we’ve all read about the latest revolutionary advancement promising the cheap solar future is going to happen tomorrow?
the day i see this stuff in home depot is the day I’ll be excited.
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Can’t tell from the article, but it sounds like infrared passes unimpeded through the glass pane, and only visible wavelengths are redirected toward the edges.
If so, this means a single pane of glass can do double-duty for both electricity generation (around the edges) and water/interior heating (underneath).
And, twist this technology around with other dyes and you have new ways to filter UV and infrared from windows, by redirecting their wavelengths toward the edges and ventilated up and back out of the house (ridge-vent style).
Considering how the price of solar panels has dropped and efficiency has skyrocketed in the last couple decades, I am not skeptical when I hear about such advances.
The solar panels being created in labs in 1954 were a mere 4% efficient. The solar panels on my roof, which aren’t anything unique are 20% efficient.