Saudi Arabia scientists have developed a revolutionary cooling technology that passively regulates the temperature of solar panels, while significantly increasing their power and tripling their lifespan.
Saudi Arabia scientists have developed a photovoltaic panel cooling technology
Leaded by an international research team at the University of Science and Technology King Abdullah (Kaust) in Thuwal, the project introduced an innovative composite material, made of lithium chloride and sodium polyacrylate.
This hydroscopic layer absorbs moisture from the air during the night and releases it during the day, ensuring an effective cooling, without electricity, for photovoltaic panels, according to interestingngineering.com.
When they were tested in the extreme heat of the Saudi desert, the solar panels covered with this material remained 9.4 degrees Celsius colder than the untreated ones. Moreover, their production power increased by 12.9%, while their lifespan was prolonged by over 200%.
Solar energy remodeling
Solar energy remains a peak priority for countries that extend their green economies, solar cells representing three quarters of the total new renewable energy installations.
Moreover, in 2024, the world added 451.9 new solar capacity, representing almost 75% of the total renewable energy installations of that year, still emphasizing the rapid growth of the sector and the global impulse.
However, the supply of reliable and long -lasting solar energy remains a challenge, because the commercial solar panels transform only about 20% of the sunlight into electricity, the rest being either absorbed in the form of heat or reflected.
The solution can be applied to the greenhouses
Heat also reduces performance and shortens the lifespan of solar cells, which leads to more frequent replacements. Although traditional cooling systems, such as fans and pumps, can be helpful, they consume additional electricity. In turn, passive cooling offers an alternative that does not require electricity to operate and can also be applied to greenhouses.
“We specialize in materials that allow passive cooling”said Qiaoqiang Gan, doctor in the science and engineering of materials at Kaust and the main author of the study. “These materials are thin and can be placed on different systems that require cooling to operate, such as greenhouses and solar cells, without affecting performance, ” he added.
Testing cooling technology
As part of the project, the team has developed a composite made of lithium and sodium polyacrylate at the Center for Renewable Energy and Storage Technologies.
Scientists have explained that they have chosen polyacrylate because it is a cheap polymer, and its manufacturing process does not require hard chemicals or specialized reagents, as opposed to other hydroscopic compositions for cooling, which makes it a more profitable solution.
After analyzing the results, the team was surprised to discover that the solar cells covered with the new material had a temperature with 20 degrees Celsius lower than those without it.
The treated panels also provided over 12% more energy, extended their lifespan by over 200% and reduced the costs of electricity generation by almost 20%.
In addition to Saudi Arabia, the team has also tested the technology in some of the most cold and humid areas of the American continent to prove that the passive cooling system works effectively in a wide range of environmental conditions.
