The Future Of Solar Tech Is Awesome

Long, long ago, way back in 2008, the US was expanding less than 300 megawatts a year of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, and the rush of solar was but a shimmer in the country’s eye, it was very much an open issue which solar technology might triumph in the end, or if any of them would triumph at all.

At the time, solar was comprised of conventional crystalline silicon panels, which have been around since the 1950s. But there was faith that (and some substantial investments in) multi-junction solar cells, thin-film solar panels, organic and carbon nanotube cells, concentrated solar plants, and a mixture of other solar power-generation technologies would emerge as well.

Now, it's the future, and after a whirlwind of a decade of solar growth, the US installed more than 10 gigawatts of PV in 2017, and five US states now produce 10 percent or more of their electricity from solar, most solar employs traditional crystalline silicon panels.

They’ve become sounder, of course, but more importantly, they have gotten cheap, more than 80 percent less expensive since 2009. 

Solar Hits Home

The message was hit home to me recently when GTM Research (which is in the process of becoming Wood MacKenzie) reached out to another journalist about a series of short statements on nascent solar technologies just bursting into markets.

I presumed to hear about fancy new solar cells, micro-this, universal-that. But that’s not what the solar exchange it is right at the moment.

Besides silicon options, the new technologies nudging their way into commercialization complement silicon PV, enabling panels to deploy in new places or decreasing the expense of maintenance.
At least momentarily, silicon PV has swayed the market race. The promising solar markets are for technologies that promote it to go farther.

There is some debate over whether silicon PV can ever go far enough, whether it will be sufficient for the aggressive long-term decarbonization goals the US has set for itself. Some researchers are disturbed it could level-off early and fall short.

Solar Grows Everywhere

In some developing solar markets, especially in East Asia, the land is becoming a force. Much of the flat area is taken for agriculture. The land in and around cities is densely populated. Finding room for solar will only get more complicated.

Float your panels! PV panels can be installed on pontoons that float on freshwater lakes and reservoirs.

Floating PV has a few benefits: it can be built without traditional site preparation, pile driving, or fence and road building; there’s less competition for the “land”; the panels stay more cooled, which promotes efficiency; and floating systems can often be produced closer to loads.

Curious about solar hard costs vs. soft costs near you, and how that might affect your own solar panel pricing? We here at HahaSmart you will have a look at what we can offer you on the cost of solar panels and cost of solar installations. We will strive to find you the best prices available. Follow the solar experts. Try our price checker tool. It tells you how much solar power you need and how much you can save on your energy bills each month. Please visit our solar blog to find out more about the benefits of going solar.