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New research suggests that double-sided solar panels that can tilt to follow the Sun across the sky could massively improve efficiency and energy yield.
Humankind faces an imminent energy crisis, as natural resources become more limited and demand for energy continues to rise.
Using solar power to relieve the strain on fossil fuels, if not outright replacing them, is vitally important. The difficulty that exists with solar technology is making it as efficient and cost-effective as possible.
New research from the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore, published in the journal Joule, suggests that a combination of techniques could be the key to viable solar power.
The team, led by research fellow and first author Carlos Rodríguez-Galle, combined double-sided (bifacial) solar panels, which can collect sunlight on two sides rather than one, with an axial system to allow the panels to track the Sun’s movements.
The researchers found that when pitting their combined system against more traditional single static solar panel arrangements, their novel technology was capable of generating around 35% more energy. The system also proved to be cost-effective too, reducing the cost of electricity by an average of 16%.
Efficiency the Key to a Solar-Powered Future
A multitude of companies such as Energy Sage exist solely to assist consumers in selecting the most efficient and economical solar panels for their energy needs.
These efficiency measurements strongly rely on
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