The boost in solar tech

One of the more encouraging developments in renewable energy generation is the speed at which technological innovations are being developed. Since fossil fuels have only a few decades left, we must discover how to power the world without killing it. Solar energy has a very bright future (pun intended) and a new development is likely to boost solar power generation. Solar power has looked increasingly bright recently thanks to the falling cost of silicon solar panels and a global trend for clean energy sources to address climate change. Using the most optimistic scenarios, solar generation will increase 16-fold between 2016 and 2040, according to a report from the International Energy Agency.

Exciting material advancements help spur solar advancement

Fresh research into a class of materials known as perovskites is underway in U.S. government labs and other facilities around the world. They promise to accelerate even the most optimistic projections for solar energy production. If they make it from the lab to commercial use perovskites could dramatically alter the market for solar power, offering the potential for panels to capture energy virtually from 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 and less expensive to produce

It's not terribly difficult 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 by an ink solution or shot out of a printer like a newspaper. That flexibility means they can be attached to almost anything. During a recent visit to the National Renewable Energy Lab in Golden, Colo., researchers Joseph Berry and David Moore excitedly report on the research projects underway to transform perovskites from a laboratory project to a commercial reality. Moore lifts a small surface with visible perovskite solar cells he painted on himself with a brush purchased 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 and effectiveness. Moore holds up a light to a solar cell that dims in response to the light, displaying potential protection against sunlight. In the past, various solar technologies have offered either flexibility or efficiency, but researchers have had difficulty combining the two. “Perovskites shatter that trade-off and promise to do better on literally every performance characteristic,” says Sivaram.

Some challenges remain for the technology

Silicon solar panels have been tested for several years and proven reliable and strong while the lifespan of perovskites remains largely unknown. Given the urgency of climate change, the world does not have 30 years to experiment. “Four years ago, you could make it for maybe a day,” says Berry. “Now we’re out to 5,000 hours.”

Today solar is the clear leader in alternative energy

Solar power isn’t going anywhere! The sooner homeowners start to investigate home much they cans ave, the sooner they will be able to enjoy the benefits of solar energy.

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

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