New Technology Rejuvinates Solar Panels

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One of the drawbacks of using solar energy is that the performance of the panels deteriorates over time. After around 25 years in operation, the degradation in performance can reach to over 10% of their output. Although it may take that long to become obvious, the degradation starts from installation, and over the first year the harsh weather conditions in which they operate causes a a considerably large drop in performance. This is especially true in tropical areas where the panels may frequently be subject to intense sunlight, heat, humidity and thunderstorms. The fall in electricity can be expensive over the lifetime of the panel. It is estimated that the drop in solar panel efficiency totals a US$2 billion in energy loss globally, based on the global 1-terawatt solar power capacity. When the efficiency drops too low, solar panels need to be replaced, which is expensive. Although solar panels can be recycled, it is estimated that 90% end up in landfill.

Now there may be an alternative, as scientists from EtaVolt, a spin-off from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) claim to have developed a method of rejuvenating old solar panels quickly and affordably. The new technique can also be used to protect both new and old solar panels from performance degradation caused by light and heat. The underlying science behind the new technology was developed at the Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N) and has been exclusively licensed to EtaVolt.

The Advanced Regeneration Technology can work for over 90% of silicon solar cells in the market, including those that contain boron, oxygen, defects and other impurities. The technique involves applying intense light and controlled temperature precisely to solar cells to excite and cause the material molecules to move quickly. This process changes the arrangement of the molecules and patches up the ‘holes’ caused by light and heat damage. The application device can automatically roll itself over solar panels that are up to 2.3 metres in length. The process takes under five minutes and can help recover up to 5 per cent of lost field performance. However, the treatment can also prevent and minimise further degradation of the solar cells for up to five years, depending on the type of solar panels. It can also be used indoors and deployed on-site for outdoor solar farms.

In addition to the new solar panel rejuvenation service, EtaVolt also provides smart recycling services for solar panels with full automation, where they dismantle and recover useful materials and resources from waste solar panels and reuse them for other purposes. These technologies, developed at NTU, have been patented through NTUitive, the University’s innovation and enterprise company and are licensed to EtaVolt.