Journal of Fundamentals of Renewable Energy and Applications
Open Access

Developments in Solar Panel Technology and its Applications

Gwen Walsh^{* *}Correspondence: Gwen Walsh, Department of Biotechnology, Mount Kenya University, Thika, Kenya, Email:

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Descripition

Solar power, which utilizes from the sun energy, has emerged as an innovative force in the ongoing search for clean and sustainable energy sources. With the potential to generate electricity, heat water, and even power cars, solar technology has an achievable way for helping combat with climate change by reducing the consumption on fossil fuels, and provide access to affordable power in remote areas [1].

Applications of solar energy

Residential solar panels: Rooftop solar panels have become more common around the world. Residential solar installations provide households the potential to generate their own electricity by potentially reducing their reliance on traditional power grids. The electricity produced can be utilized to power homes, charge electric vehicles, or even be sold back to the power system [2].

Commercial and industrial solar installations: Solar energy has been used by the commercial and industrial sectors in order to reduce energy costs and reduce carbon footprints. Large solar arrays, whether ground-mounted or installed on building rooftops has significant power to factories, warehouses and offices [3].

Solar farms: These vast installations of solar panels in rural areas or deserts are capable of generating massive amounts of electricity. Solar farms can feed into national grids or provide power for large-scale industrial processes [4].

Off-grid solar systems: In remote and off-grid areas where traditional energy infrastructure is absent, solar power is necessary. Off-grid solar systems often combined with energy storage by providing electricity for lighting, refrigeration and communications.

Solar-powered water pumping: Solar energy is changing agriculture in many parts of the world. Solar-powered water pumps enable farmers to irrigate their fields by increasing the crop yields and reducing manual labor [5,6].

Solar desalination: Solar desalination technologies are emerging as a solution to freshwater shortage in arid regions. By using solar energy to desalinate seawater these systems can provide a sustainable source of fresh water [7].

Solar-powered transportation: Solar energy is not confined to stationary applications. Solar panels on vehicles including cars and buses are used to recharge batteries and extend the range of electric vehicles.

Solar-powered gadgets: Solar chargers for small electronic devices, such as smartphones and tablets, offer portable and sustainable energy solutions [8].

Developments in solar panel technologies

Thin-film solar panels: Thin-film solar panels are more flexible and lightweight than traditional silicon based panels. They can be integrated into building materials and curved surfaces by opening up new possibilities for architectural design [9].

Bifacial solar panels: Bifacial panels capture sunlight from both sides by maximizing energy production. They are particularly useful in environments with high reflectivity, such as snowy landscapes or near bodies of water.

Floating solar panels: Solar panels installed on bodies of water and known as floating solar systems by offering benefits like reduced water evaporation and cooling effects that improve panel efficiency.

Biogenic solar cells: Biogenic solar cells use biological organisms such as algae or bacteria to generate electricity. These experimental technologies have the potential to create sustainable, self-repairing solar panels [10,11].

Solar tracking systems: Solar tracking systems adjust the angle of solar panels to follow the sun movement throughout the day by optimizing energy capture. These systems significantly increase energy output.

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