Chinese team’s hydrogel coating boosts solar panel power output 13%, ideal for hot regions
AI Summary
A Chinese research team has developed a hydrogel cooling coating for solar panels that increases power output by 13%. The transparent coating reduces "hotspots" on solar panels by up to 16 degrees Celsius, mitigating a common cause of panel failure and fire risk. Researchers from Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Tianjin University, and Hebei University of Technology published their findings in September in *Advanced Energy Materials*. The team estimates the coating can offset 50% of power generation loss caused by hotspots in building-integrated photovoltaics. Several companies have expressed interest in commercializing the technology, which is particularly useful in hot, sunny regions. While the hydrogel system increases the cost of a solar panel by approximately 10.7%, researchers plan to launch large-scale deployments and collaborate with industry partners to expand the technology's use.
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