I kinda skimmed it. So from what I understand, they put a cooling layer behind regular solar panels. Panels get less efficient when they heat up so keeping them cool is where the extra efficiency comes from. The cooling layer is inspired by how plants cool themselves, it seems sort of similar to sweating in a way. Water moves through by capillary action, absorbs heat from the panel, and evaporates. Additionally they discuss:
using salt water as input water, which will result in some clean water output. It seems you need to kinda flush the cooling layer at night to get rid of salt crystal build up, but this could be a nice bonus in less developed areas.
use a condenser down the line to recover heat energy from the evaporated output water. Has the potential to raise total efficiency by a bunch of you can use the warm water for heating and the PV generated electricity for power.
They claim the cooling layer doesn’t add much extra cost (6 months extra operation to recoup your investment). I wonder what the lifetime of the cooling layer is compared to the photovoltaics themselves. They use some natural fiber I think so maintenance could be an issue.
That was my immediate thought (maintenance), how does this compare to solar panel maintenance, which I’d assume consists of an occasional clean / check on the wiring?
Well I’ve done literally zero to my panels since they were installed and they are working just fine.
I was in fact told they were maintenance free when they were installed unless they get exceptionally dirty, which they haven’t as the rain cleans them.
So maybe calm down with your “bullshit” emotional responses.
I’m not taking about damage repair, I’m talking about maintenance.
They are two different things.
If a rock smashes through a panel, then of course that would require intervention. Of course it would. That’s common sense. I’m not claiming otherwise.
I’ve had my panels for a while now, and I’ve done nothing to them. The manufacturers of the panels AND the people who fitted them both told me they were maintenance free. Which they have been.
You are calling “bullshit” on something you’ve never used or apparently understand. Please stop.
bullshit, there is plenty of low maintenance or even maintenance free outdoor equipment, it’s just not going to be the cheapest stuff you can buy often
If anyone wants to read the actual details, there is a link in the article to a more-detailed one on nature.com: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-38984-7#Fig1
I kinda skimmed it. So from what I understand, they put a cooling layer behind regular solar panels. Panels get less efficient when they heat up so keeping them cool is where the extra efficiency comes from. The cooling layer is inspired by how plants cool themselves, it seems sort of similar to sweating in a way. Water moves through by capillary action, absorbs heat from the panel, and evaporates. Additionally they discuss:
They claim the cooling layer doesn’t add much extra cost (6 months extra operation to recoup your investment). I wonder what the lifetime of the cooling layer is compared to the photovoltaics themselves. They use some natural fiber I think so maintenance could be an issue.
That was my immediate thought (maintenance), how does this compare to solar panel maintenance, which I’d assume consists of an occasional clean / check on the wiring?
Unless you live in a very dusty area with no rain, there is literally zero maintenance on a modern domestic installation.
Bullshit. All outdoor equipment needs fairly regular maintenance by virtue of being outside all the time.
Well I’ve done literally zero to my panels since they were installed and they are working just fine.
I was in fact told they were maintenance free when they were installed unless they get exceptionally dirty, which they haven’t as the rain cleans them.
So maybe calm down with your “bullshit” emotional responses.
“I’ve gotten lucky and haven’t had mine damaged by the elements yet” is an anecdote, and it certainly doesn’t make a thing maintenance free.
I’m not taking about damage repair, I’m talking about maintenance.
They are two different things.
If a rock smashes through a panel, then of course that would require intervention. Of course it would. That’s common sense. I’m not claiming otherwise.
I’ve had my panels for a while now, and I’ve done nothing to them. The manufacturers of the panels AND the people who fitted them both told me they were maintenance free. Which they have been.
You are calling “bullshit” on something you’ve never used or apparently understand. Please stop.
bullshit, there is plenty of low maintenance or even maintenance free outdoor equipment, it’s just not going to be the cheapest stuff you can buy often