1 yr. ago • 97%

Scientists invent double-sided solar panel that generates vastly more electricity

www.independent.co.uk Scientists invent double-sided solar panel that generates vastly more electricity

Back side of perovskite panel achieves more than 90 per cent of the efficiency of the front side

TechNews @radiation.party [HN] Scientists invent double-sided solar panel that generates way more electricity

Technology @lemmy.ml Scientists invent double-sided solar panel that generates vastly more electricity

31 comments

This is just bifacial and it's been on the market for a little bit already.

21
- Yeah.. they've been standard for years now. I believe the uplift on a fixed tilt array on grass is approx 5 to 10%.
  
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Ok guys hear me out, what if we make it 3 sided

17
- I like your way of thinking, but why stop there? 4 sides anyone?
  
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  Guys, why are we still limiting ourselves to 3 dimensions?
  
  4D solar panels
  
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  https://media.tenor.com/OZ3d4KSus4gAAAAM/assimilate-star-trek.gif
  
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Genuinely curious how the EROI compares to a single sided panel.

It is generating more electricity. On the flipside (heh) it would cost more energy to produce.

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- EROI should be a standard part of renewables reporting. Without it these are basically just puff pieces.
  
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If the solar panel isn’t facing the sun then how is it generating power?

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- From the reflection of the sunlight! Light bounces around everything and everywhere, so while it's not direct sunlight, it's still light. It generates less than the sun facing one but it's still more power.
  
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  Typically you get 5-10% bonus outpit on bifacials.
  
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  Is it worth the additional cost tho? I guess if you’re limited on space there is no other option, but I feel like I’d rather entertain additional solar panels that are facing the sun than to add additional cost for such a low return.
  
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- 10
  
  So then off reflections? That doesn’t sound very efficient or worth the additional cost if I can just face another solar panel at the sun.
  
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Bifacial panels have been a thing for several years, mostly in utility-scale solar installations.

7
- We have bifacial panels, cost was comparable, and rated at ~15% additional output. Now almost 2yrs old.
  
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  This is using perovskite tho and boosts more like 20%. Plus normal perovskite-silicon panels are more efficient as well. May not be a new concept, but it is new tech.
  
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...harvests reflected sunlight hitting the back of the device, offering an unconventional route to producing higher energy yields for less space and cost.

Less cost seems probable. Less space really does not. Gonna probably need some mirrors to reflect onto that back surface, and it's still going to require the same amount of incident area of solar radiation.

Mirrors are pretty cheap, though. So seems like a win.

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It should have been obvious. A double-sided dildo creates twice as much friction.

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