ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Science

Double-sided panels that follow the sun are more efficient than regular ones

However, replacing the ones now in use might ironically hurt the environment.

Fermin KoopbyFermin Koop
June 9, 2020
in Environment, Environmental Issues, News, Science
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit

New double-sided solar panels that can follow the sun’s position could produce 35% more energy and reduce the cost of electricity by 16%, according to a new study, which looked at a new approach for solar energy. Nevertheless, making the switch to the new panels will likely be tricky for the industry.

Credit Wikipedia Commons

Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are a major contributor to global electricity generation with more than 600 gigawatts of accumulated installed capacity as of 2019. In many regions of the world, PV electricity is now cheaper than electricity from conventional sources like coal, making PV the most commonly installed new energy generation source.

Most solar panels installed around the world only collect the sunlight from the front and are fixed in one position, without the ability to adapt to where the sun is in the sky. But new technological developments could bring a major change for solar panels around the world

Researchers from the Solar Energy Research Institute from Singapore (SERIS) explored the use and potential benefits of bifacial solar panels that can collect light from the front and rear, which also have single or dual-axis tracking systems that adjust the panel orientation to follow the sun’s position.

In their study, the team calculated the global energy generated by a variety of combinations of different solar panel set-ups. They analyzed global weather data from NASA’s orbiting Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System instrument and then estimated the total energy generated in different set-ups – factoring in the costs involved in the materials, construction and maintenance.

Double-sided panels with single-axis tracking emerged as the clear winner in the study, the researchers finding that these are the most cost-effective in over 90% of the planet. Such solar panels provide a 35% increase in energy yield compared to single-panel models. For the other 10% of the globe, mostly around the poles, double-sided panels with double-axis tracking were more effective.

“More and more evidence points toward bifacial and tracking technology to be reliable, and we see more and more of it adopted in the field,” said lead-author Carlos Rodríguez-Gallegos in the study. “Still, transitions take time, and time will have to show whether the advantages we see are attractive enough for installers to make the switch.”

But that’s not the only issue to consider, the authors argued. Replacing the millions of solar panels that have been installed with the new ones outlined in the study could have severe consequences for the environment. Disposing solar panels usually leads to the release of toxic chemicals, as not many parts can be recycled.

RelatedPosts

Taylor Swift’s concerts are so popular in Europe they’re triggering short-term inflation
Why is Ernest Hemingway Important? The Most Interesting Man in the World
US private company to offer manned flights to the Moon
Device identifies and sorts bad germs from the good ones in minutes, instead of days

Most solar panels have a 25-year lifespan, which means companies and governments haven’t had to address the problem of their disposal yet. Nevertheless, as most countries start choosing renewables over fossil fuels and as new solar panels enter the market, this could potentially grow to become a problem.

The study was published in the journal Joule.

ShareTweetShare
Fermin Koop

Fermin Koop

Fermin Koop is a reporter from Buenos Aires, Argentina. He holds an MSc from Reading University (UK) on Environment and Development and is specialized in environment and climate change news.

Related Posts

Future

China Resurrected an Abandoned Soviet ‘Sea Monster’ That’s Part Airplane, Part Hovercraft

byTibi Puiu
12 hours ago
great white shark
Animals

This Shark Expert Has Spent Decades Studying Attacks and Says We’ve Been Afraid for the Wrong Reasons

byJordan Strickler
15 hours ago
Agriculture

A Rocket Carried Cannabis Seeds and 166 Human Remains into Space But Their Capsule Never Made It Back

byTudor Tarita
15 hours ago
News

Ancient ‘Zombie’ Fungus Trapped in Amber Shows Mind Control Began in the Age of the Dinosaurs

byMihai Andrei
15 hours ago

Recent news

China Resurrected an Abandoned Soviet ‘Sea Monster’ That’s Part Airplane, Part Hovercraft

June 30, 2025
great white shark

This Shark Expert Has Spent Decades Studying Attacks and Says We’ve Been Afraid for the Wrong Reasons

June 30, 2025

A Rocket Carried Cannabis Seeds and 166 Human Remains into Space But Their Capsule Never Made It Back

June 30, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • How we review products
  • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Science News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Space
  • Future
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
    • Resources
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Editorial policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.