New tech could revolutionize solar 

Solar energy has a very bright future and a new development could increase solar power generation. Solar power has looked increasingly bright recently thanks to the falling cost of silicon solar panels and a global push for clean energy sources to address climate change. Using the most optimistic scenarios for the power source, solar generation will increase 16-fold between 2016 and 2040, according to a report from the International Energy Agency.

Exciting material advancement

But now new research into a class of materials known as perovskites is underway in U.S. government labs and other facilities around the globe. They promise to accelerate even the most optimistic projections for solar deployment. If they make it from the lab to commercial use perovskites could dramatically alter the market for the renewable energy source offering potential for panels to capture energy virtually any surface facing the sun.
“The future of perovskites is breathtaking,” says Varun Sivaram, a fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and author of “Taming the Sun,” a book on the future of solar power. “For solar to really anchor a clean energy transition we’re going to need technological innovation and perovskite is the frontrunner in my mind.”

New solar cells are easier to produce

An engineering degree is not needed to understand the primary reasons why perovskites potentially serve as a superior alternative to traditional solar cells. For one, perovskite solar cells are flexible and easy to produce. They can be painted or sprayed on a surface from an ink solution or shot out of a printer like a newspaper. That flexibility means they can be attached to virtually anything. During a recent visit to the National Renewable Energy Lab in Golden, Colo., researchers Joseph Berry and David Moore excitedly report on the various research projects underway to transform perovskites from a laboratory curiosity to a commercial reality. Moore lifts a small surface with visible perovskite solar cells he painted on himself with a brush acquired at a local craft store, showing how easily the cells can be applied. Berry points to an experiment where perovskite cells are being held under bright light to test their durability. Moore holds up a light to a solar cell that dims in response to the light, mimicking potential protection against sunlight. In the past, various solar technologies have offered either flexibility or efficiency, but researchers have struggled to combine the two. “Perovskites shatter that trade-off and promise to do better on literally every performance characteristic,” says Sivaram.

Some challenges remain

Perhaps most importantly, silicon solar panels have been tested for several years and proven durable while the lifespan of perovskites remains largely unknown. And, given the urgency of climate change, the world does not have 30 years to find out. “Four years ago, you could make it for maybe a day,” says Berry. “Now we’re out to 5,000 hours.”

Solar power is here to stay, and the sooner you explore how much you can save, the sooner you can enjoy the benefits of residential solar power. Go to HahaSmart.com and try our price checker tool. It tells you how much solar power you need, and how much you can save.

Please visit our solar blog to find out more about the benefits of going solar.