As we proceed further into the 2020s, the byword going ahead will be clean and renewable. And that is very much true for energy: more and more governments worldwide are catalysing this move towards renewable energy that the environment can then sustain. At the helm of all this is solar energy, and with technology progressing further by the day, here are some of the latest advancements in solar energy and some of the new solar panel technologies in 2023

While solar panel technology has changed little over the years, its essentially the types and the efficiency of the PV modules that has evolved over time. Newer technologies in solar energy have led to some of the most efficient solar panels to date, and this trend has continued, although some newer types of solar panels have also come up, which will likely continue to be innovated. Lets start with some of the newer solar panel types, and conclude on the new solar panel technologies in 2023 that focus on efficiency.

New solar panel technologies in 2023:Types

While your average, run-of-the-mill solar panel is simply a flat panel with solar cells facing upwards, newer technologies and types have resulted in some unique configurations and modifications, each with its own set of quirks and features that then affect the performance and the efficiency of the solar panel. Starting off the list, we have,

i. Bifacial solar panels

One of the more interesting and certainly unique additions to the solar panel technology is the introduction of bifacial solar panels. As the name suggests, these are panels with solar cells on both sides of the panels, essentially doubling the generation potential. However, while many solar panel manufacturing companies like CanadianSolar have successfully implemented this technology for consumer solar panels, the installation of these panels is such that solar energy can be harnessed throughout the day, which essentially increases the energy generated.

However, with this iteration of the solar panel, we still have a long way to go; maybe by combining these bifacial solar panels with mobile technology that allows the panels to rotate, we could truly harness the power of the sun.

ii. Transparent PV modules

Another one of the more aesthetic developments in the field of solar energy is the development of transparent PV modules, or rather, transparent solar cells enclosed in a transparent panel. These are solely for aesthetic purposes; no other change or upgrade in the terms of solar usability or efficiency has been recorded for them, neither was the apparent stated goal for the development. This advancement means that solar panels can now be installed on window panes, and other places where previously the ‘form over function’ was not applicable. However, with the advent of these solar panels, we now have an aesthetic choice in solar energy.

New solar energy innovations for 2023: Energy storage solutions

Aside from the new solar panel technologies in 2023, we also have another very important innovation in solar energy, which could change and revolutionise how we store energy in general, and solar energy applications could benefit from it a lot.

Solar energy systems started off with lead-acid batteries for energy storage in hybrid and off-grid systems. With the passage of time, lithium-ion became the go-to for energy storage, and it is what drives everything nowadays, from smartphones and laptops to electric cars and big storage solutions for solar energy.

Recent advancements in organic chemistry have allowed for a lot of allotropes of carbon to be used for energy storage; chiefly graphene, which has shown promising results in energy storage and dispersion. It is a good innovation that seems to solve the one problem inherent with all storage solutions. Solar energy storage might see the use of graphene in the near future, which will absolutely revolutionize how we use solar batteries and solar energy systems.

New solar panel technologies in 2023: Working on efficiency

Efficiency in solar panels has somehow been the point of contention; up to 25 per cent in the most efficient solar panels for 2023, we are now beginning to see some breakthrough in solar panel efficiency in 2023, with estimates ranging from a bump in efficiency from 30 per cent to 35 or even 40 per cent. That is because of the use of newer materials in the construction of solar panels, which have shown promising results and could mean that in 2023 or next year, we could have consumer trials of solar panels with over 30 per cent efficiency.

For the latest in solar panel technology

Look no further than Beacon Energy. One of the best solar equipment suppliers in Dubai and the greater UAE, they have the most comprehensive catalogue of solar energy products; from CanadianSolar panels in Dubai to SOFAR Solar inverters and other range of products, they have everything you need when it comes to solar energy, and then some.