3 Things You Should Know About the Future of Solar Energy

Did you know that solar energy accounted for just three percent of all electricity generation in the United States in 2020, but experts believe that it will increase to twenty percent by 2050?

Solar energy continues to become more popular, and demand for solar panels is rising across the world. But there are many challenges that need to be addressed in order to make solar electricity affordable and as efficient as it can be.

To help you to understand the future of solar energy, we have written a guide. Keep reading, and we will fill you in on everything that you need to know.

 

1. People Are Working to Develop Better Materials for Solar Panels 

There are many disadvantages of using traditional silicon solar panels. Not only are they expensive, but they are also not very efficient. Thankfully, experts believe that materials known as perovskites can help to address these problems.

Perovskites are mineral compounds that contain titanium, oxygen, and calcium. Unlike other types of solar panels, perovskites are extremely thin and require very little material. The manufacturing process is also more simple, which means that less energy is required for making them.

There are many solar energy companies that are investing lots of money and resources to develop them.

Unfortunately, current solar panels made from perovskites are not very durable.

2. Improving Transmission and Storage 

It’s essential that people figure out how to effectively transmit solar energy across long distances. Once people solve this problem, it will become easier to transmit solar electricity from places that get lots of sun, such as Southern California, to the Northwest parts of the United States.

It will also be important to figure out how to store solar electricity for long periods of time. Once researchers figure this out, it will become possible to capture solar energy in the summer and store it until the winter.

Blue Raven Solar is one of the companies that is taking the lead in solving this problem. To find out more, take a moment to view this solar panel site.

3. Floating Solar Panels 

In the future, it will be possible to produce solar energy on the surface of the ocean. Since water cools solar panels down, it will be possible to increase their performance by up to ten percent.

The problem with floating solar panels is that they can interfere with ocean life. It is also challenging to hold floating solar panels in place.

Once experts figure out how to solve these problems, it’s likely that companies or a commercial solar installer will start installing lots of floating solar panels.

The Future of Solar Energy 

If you’ve been wondering what is in store for the future of solar energy, it’s important to realize that solar panels of the future will be more efficient and lighter. It’s also possible that companies will start installing floating solar panels.

If you want to find out more about green living, be sure to check out the Lifestyle section of our blog.