MIT experts suggest folding accordion solar panel

Today, the main direction of development of solar energy is the development of cheaper and more efficient photovoltaic cells. However, even if their efficiency approaches 100%, the problem of low concentration of solar energy will remain — on average, a little more than a kilowatt per square meter. Solar power plants take up a lot of space. In addition, they poorly capture ambient light and need relatively expensive sun tracking mechanisms to work effectively in the morning and in the evening, and not just at noon.

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have approached the problem from a different angle . They drew attention to the fact that in modern solar power plants the cost of photovoltaic cells is only about a third of the installation price. Two-thirds accounted for mechanical structures, batteries, inverters, rent or tax on the land on which the power plant is located.

Scientists decided to abandon the traditional flat panels and create three-dimensional structures in which the elements are located at different angles. The results of computer simulations and experiments with small-scale installations showed that such structures are much more efficient than flat panels in the morning and evening hours and cheaper than moving structures that follow the sun.


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Despite the fact that their batteries contain an excessive number of photovoltaic cells, their use is economically viable due to much better characteristics. “Cubes” and “harmonicas” operate at full power almost all daylight hours and capture ambient light much better when the sun is hidden behind the clouds. More uniform and predictable power generation reduces battery requirements.



Another big plus is that three-dimensional structures take up much less space. This opens up new possibilities for using them in urban architecture. For example, it is proposed to use vertical “solar columns” for charging electric bikes or to place panels not only on the roofs, but also on the walls of buildings.



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