As a solar enthusiast and advocate, I’m always thrilled to share the latest discoveries and advancements in solar technology. Today, I am excited to talk about a prototype of a hybrid solar system that magnificently integrates solar cells for power production and radiative cooling for additional cooling purposes, created by a team of researchers at Penn State University.
Let’s break that down bit by bit.
A hybrid system is one that combines two or more functionalities. In this case, both solar power production and radiative cooling are happening simultaneously. Radiative cooling is a process where an object’s surface absorbs less radiation from its surroundings and emits more, causing the surface to lose heat and create a cooling effect without using power.
The prototype presented by the researchers is an innovative shift in the solar industry. The photovoltaic electricity – the process by which sunlight is converted into electricity – produced by this hybrid system can be utilized for energy storage or converted into alternating current with the help of an inverter. But that’s not all, the coldness achieved by this radiative cooler can be used to cool air or liquid, providing potential energy savings.
Here’s what makes this dual system so fascinating: It allows for continuous cooling (both during the day and night) and solar power generation from the same area. The authors describe it as a 24/7 natural air conditioner. It works even on hot days, with the cooler remaining cold to the touch.
This highly efficient system consists of a transparent low-iron glass radiative cooler transmitting 91% of sunlight, a visibly transparent infrared-opaque layer, and a 125 mm × 125 mm interdigitated back-contact photovoltaic cell. The researchers have carefully built this system ensuring that there is no direct radiative heat exchange between the cooler and the PV device.
Why is this important for solar companies and homeowners considering solar panels for their homes? Well, not only does the hybrid solar array for home offer energy production, it also provides a cooling benefit, potentially reducing overall energy consumption, and in result – the expenses.
Don’t take my word for it; the results are in the numbers. In outdoor testing, this solar system outperformed the electricity savings of a regular solar cell by an impressive 30%. The best part is, both the radiative cooling and solar power generation took place simultaneously from the same surface area.
Finally, the researchers have postulated an efficient use of the power generated whereby it can be utilized to power a cooling system, resulting in a cooling power of the hybrid system that is five times more than regular solar-reflective radiative coolers.
There you have it, folks! The future of the solar industry seems brighter with this opportunity to harvest both energy sources – the sun and the cold universe – for renewable energy in an incredibly efficient manner. This simultaneous utilization of resources can surpass anything we’ve seen so far. So, if you are seeking options from solar companies or researching about solar panels for your home, keep an eye out for advancements like these in the solar array for your home.
Original Articlehttps://pv-magazine-usa.com/2024/03/14/u-s-scientists-build-hybrid-energy-system-integrating-pv-radiative-cooling/