7 Solar Trends and Technologies to Watch For This 2019

7 Solar Trends and Technologies to Watch For This 2019

Indeed, it is an exciting time for the solar PV industry. From growing support from federal and labor government to better quality and more efficient solar components, it is expected that the future of solar is brighter than the sun. With all the technological advancements and solar trends that we have witnessed last year, what more can we expect in 2019?

 

Emerging Solar Panel Technology

1. Mono PERC’s popularity

Industry predicts that 2019 will be the year of mono PERC (passivated emitter rear contact) products. According to PV InfoLink, mono PERC panels are becoming a mainstream product this year, as many facilities are using this technology for production capacity. This can be inferred on higher than expected total PERC capacity, rising from 33.6 GW at the end of 2018, to 66.7 GW in late 2018.

Generally speaking, it will represent a 46% share of the market next year. PV InfoLink anticipated that if, as expected, mono PERC items achieve 310 W – 35 W more than multicrystalline modules – in 2019, more global manufacturers will swing to this technology.

2. Bifacial Solar Panels

Though bifacial solar panels have been around the corner for the past year, it is predicted that this technology will comes around anytime sooner. As their name proposes, bifacial solar panels are solar panels that capture sunlight from both sides. This implies that if installed correctly in right angle, the top of a panel could absorb light like normal while the bottom could absorb light reflected from other close-by surfaces— radically increasing the power output of the solar cells.

(Source: http://www.cea-tech.fr)

3. Clear Solar Panels

Researchers are developing solar windows through clear films, put on conventional window glass, that produce power by absorbing UV light. It’s a forward innovation that offers some interesting potential outcomes for buildings that need to decrease dependence on fossil fuels while keeping up a streamlined aesthetic.

So, don’t be surprise to see a building or house totally powered by clean energy, without any mounting or solar panel system attached. It may sound impossible but trust the technology – you will see this very soon.

4. Split Cell Solar Panels

Hitting the racks anytime sooner is another exciting advancement to solar technology called split solar panels. These panels are about half the size of traditional panels and have a new type of silicon chip design.

With the help of this technology, split cell panels provide the following advantages:

• Enhances module life span through decades of thermal cycling, eliminating hot spots.
• Cutting the standard cell in half and bus-barring it, therefore increasing efficiency, lowering voltage, and lowering operating temperature.
• Bolsters stability on the back sheet of the panel and lowers cost.
• Promotes higher absorption in the P-type layer.

Split cell panels are stronger than traditional modules.

Other Solar Trends To Watch For

5. Maxim Integrated Technology in Solar Panels

You might be hearing of Maxim Integrated soon. This technology might be one of the best solar advancements we’ll see this year and might shake up and disrupt the solar a huge portion of the solar industry.

Currently, most solar systems use technologies called microinverters or power optimizers to enhance the efficiency of individual solar panels in the grid. Basically, these technologies improve the performance of each panel and help it generate its maximum power output in situations where panel power may be decreased particularly cloudy days or when your panels get covered by leaves, or if they’re placed incorrectly that prevent them to capture sunlight.

Let’s look at those leaves as a quick example. A little leaf falling on your solar panel can cause a problem. Considering the way PV cells work, these kinds of obstructions don’t just affect the output where the blockage happens. They create energy transfer disruptions that swell through the panel’s entire frame and limit the panel’s ability to work. This is when Maxim Integrated Technology acts a vital role.

Maxim Integrated gets around this issue with another bit of tech that upgrades the solar panel at the cell level. At the point when obstruction occurs, power will not be lost—it’s efficiently rerouted through the rest of the cells to streamline output as much as possible. As a result, the overall cellular grid isn’t disrupted and there’s no risk of losing power to any other cells in the panel. This might be an approach to accomplishing efficiency where shading is present.

6. Tracking Solar Mounts

Albeit solar tracking mounts have been in the market since 2016, they are still under improvement. Their popularity has grown. In fact, Green Tech Media (GTM) confirms that the popularity of solar tracking mounts has increased by 254%.

The efficiency of solar panels is dependent on the sun rays hitting each solar cell. However, the sun’s position moves during the day, which impacts the frequency of solar radiation on the solar system. Tracking mounts intend to change this by following the sun’s direction and moving the solar panels accordingly. This increases the efficiency of solar panels that, thus, boost power generation. Most recent advancements in design and creation of the solar track mounts have graced last year.

7. Floating Solar Farms

It makes sense that a solar system can be on water surfaces since about 71% of the earth’s surface is covered by water. Consequently, efforts to erect solar farms on water are seeing the light of the day in past years in Australia.

A year ago, the northern New South Wales city of Lismore on Tuesday formally opened the nation’s biggest solar farm, and flagged plans to increase its size five-fold or more and to add battery storage. The 100kW floating solar farm is installed on the East Lismore sewage treatment plant, and along with a 100kW solar installation at a local aquatic center forms a key part of the local council’s plan to source 100 % of its electricity needs from renewable energy by 2023.

This could be a start of another solar trend in the industry, while encouraging manufacturers to create more sturdy panels that can withstand floods.

 

There are endless possibilities and plenty to look forward for solar technologies this year and the years to come. The solar trends mentioned above will be available in the market and disrupt the solar industry anytime sooner. We are confident that these products will even more enhance the lives of all Aussies who love clean energy and continuously support solar products.

Want to see more article likes this? Subscribe to our mailing list using the form below.




Article Sources:

Beetz, B. (2019, January 3). 14 PV Trends for 2019. Retrieved from https://www.pv-magazine-australia.com/2019/01/03/14-pv-trends-for-2019/

Sendy, A. (2018, December 6). New Solar panels and new solar panel technologies in 2019. Retrieved from https://www.solarreviews.com/blog/new-solar-panels-and-new-solar-panel-technologies-in-2019

NJ Solar Power (2018, November 20). 4 Residential Solar Tech Advancements That Are Making It Big in 2019. Retrieved from https://www.altenergymag.com/article/2018/11/4-residential-solar-tech-advancements-that-are-making-it-big-in-2019/29852

Parkinson, G. (2018, January 30). Lismore opens Australia’s largest floating solar farm, could add storage. Retrieved from /ac7082590cf8d6e3271f6803f4c09fee/lismore-opens-australias-largest-floating-solar-farm-add-storage/