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Comment on Scientists make game-changing breakthrough that could slash costs of solar panels: 'Has the potential to contribute to the energy transition'

shortwavesurfer@lemmy.zip ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

I have not read the article yet, but I will be doing so after posting this. But from what I understand, concentrated cells via lenses already exist. The problem with them was keeping them cool.

Going to go read the actual article now.

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echodot@feddit.uk ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
Yeah the problem has always been that solar panels only really like to operate within a very narrow temperature band. It’s why you can’t just plate the Sahara desert in solar panels. In theory that would generate loads of power but the heat of the desert is way outside of their operating range.

There’s been loads of ideas to heat/cool solar panels, the problem up until now has always been to do that without cutting into the panel’s efficiency so much that it isn’t worth doing.

But there’s been videos on YouTube of people cooling solar panels with plasma cooling and phase change materials for a few years now.

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- jumping_redditor@sh.itjust.works ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
  I’ve been thinking about getting solar for a while, how bad is the efficiency loss at -30C to -20C?
  
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  - oyo@lemmy.zip ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
    They gain efficiency at lower temps. Cool, clear days are best. At negative 20C you’re looking at ~15-20% increase in power output from the panel itself. Look for the “temperature coefficient” on a solar module spec sheet.
    
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- Malfeasant@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
  
  the heat of the desert is way outside of their operating range.
  
  I live in the Phoenix area, there are tons of solar installations here. In fact my house has solar, had it when we bought it 10 years ago, and it cuts the power bill in half.
  
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- fluffykittycat@slrpnk.net ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
  Biosolar roofs work for rooftop applications
  
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humanspiral@lemmy.ca ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
I think their approach with module is 20-50x concentration instead of 500x, with cooling permitted to be module wide on air gap, as well as usual bottom cooling.

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- jj4211@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
  
  usual bottom cooling.
  
  Nothing like it on a summer day.
  
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