panels

Solar power: Static electricity can keep desert solar panels free of dust

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Dust drastically lowers the output of solar panels, but applying an electric field to the panels can make dust particles repel each other and disperse Technology 11 March 2022 By Chen Ly Illustration of dust removal from a solar panel using static electricity Sreedath Panat and Kripa Varanasi Static electricity could remove dust from desert … Read more

The World’s Massive Need For More Solar Panels Has One Shiny Catch

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There’s a major catch to the world’s need for solar panels, a new analysis suggests. The booming solar panel market – which is critical for a clean energy future – could demand close to half the world’s aluminum by 2050. Thankfully, there are ways we can mitigate this.    Unlike more precious metals, such as … Read more

Solar panels: Transparent coating causes snow and ice to slide off

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Snow and ice block sunlight from reaching solar panels and stop energy generation, but a new material can cause them to slide off Technology 9 December 2021 By Matthew Sparkes The solar panels on the left are covered in a snow-shedding coating Anish Tuteja et al. Settling snow and ice can significantly dampen the output … Read more