Solar energy is already the leading source of new energy solutions in a multitude of locations. Innovations to improve solar panels and inverters as well as to use AI and robots will make it even better.

Note: This is an update to our January 2024 story

Solar Panels: Innovations continue to roll out to make solar panels more efficient.

For the current silicon panels, Wood MacKenzie said it expects TOPCon and Heterojunction to become the predominant cell technologies for utility-scale applications, displacing p-type PERC technology. TOPCon pairs a tunneling oxide layer with a PERT (n-type PERC) solar cell to reduce recombination losses and increase cell efficiency. This shift will result in better module efficiencies, and higher power densities. Larger modules can increase solar density and reduce land use by 15 percent, which can also reduce project costs.

While perovskite has been discussed for several years, GreenLancer said a leading innovation in solar panel technology is perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells. This hybrid design layers a perovskite cell on top of a conventional silicon cell, allowing each material to absorb different parts of the solar spectrum. Together, they deliver much higher conversion efficiencies than silicon alone. In China, Wired magazine reported, energy giant LONGi has developed a new tandem solar cell that has achieved a world record 33.89 percent efficiency.

At a smaller scale, indoor solar panels that harvest energy from ambient light are on the way too, Ambient Photonics said tiny photovoltaic cells harness enough energy from ambient light to power smart IoT devices. Ambient said the cells can use artificial light or sunlight to deliver up to three times greater power density than conventional indoor silicon solar cells. This technology is already in early-stage production.

Further enhancements are on the way, though actual deployment could take several years.

The University of Oxford, for instance, said its scientists have developed an approach which could generate increasing amounts of solar electricity without the need for silicon-based solar panels. The innovation coats a new power-generating material onto the surfaces of everyday objects such as rucksacks, cars, and mobile phones. This ultra-thin material has been independently certified to deliver more than 27 percent energy efficiency and scientists expect it could eventually exceed 45 percent.

MIT similarly said its engineers have developed ultralight fabric solar cells that can turn any surface into a power source. Durable, flexible solar cells are glued to a strong, lightweight fabric and can provide energy as a wearable power fabric or as a source of power in remote locations in emergencies. They are one-hundredth the weight of conventional solar panels, generate 18 times more power-per-kilogram, and are made from semiconducting inks using printing processes that can be scaled in the future to large-area manufacturing. MIT said they could be integrated onto the sails of a boat to provide power, adhered onto tents in disaster recovery operations or put on the wings of drones to extend their range.

In Spain, Interesting Engineering said researchers at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid have fabricated an intermediate band solar cell using gallium phosphide and titanium that could even deliver 60 percent efficiency.

Inverter Innovation: Another area for innovation is inverters.

New inverters make real-time power adjustments to get the most out of each panel, Cape Fear Solar Systems said, even in partial shade. They also have built-in diagnostics and automated alerts for proactive maintenance. App-based tools to track energy flow, grid usage, and battery status from a mobile phone. These improvements mean easier management of solar systems, higher efficiency, more uptime and a faster return on investment.

Wood MacKenzie also expects that inverter architecture will increase to 2000 Vdc (Volts in Direct Current), lowering costs and improving scalability.

AI and Robotics

As is happening in many parts of the economy, AI and robotics are leading to significant improvements in solar energy.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) are enhancing the efficiency and management of solar energy systems, Soleos observed. AI-driven analytics optimize energy production, predict maintenance needs and facilitate grid integration, while IoT devices enable real-time monitoring and control.

At a residential level, Cape Fear Solar Systems said consumers can use AI to learn their individual energy habits and automatically adjust usage. AI can be integrated for use with EV chargers, smart thermostats, and smart appliances to prioritize efficient energy use. AI can also be used to drive excess power to battery storage or back to the grid for credit.

And while robots are already being used for solar installation, Wood MacKenzie expects that rising labor costs and a continued shortage of qualified workers will increase the use of robots for construction, operation and maintenance. Companies such as Terabase Energy offer automated on-field assembly of trackers and modules that can double labor productivity, while companies such as AES and Luminous Robotics have developed robots that can reduce installation time by 50 percent by mounting solar modules in the field. Robots from companies such as Swap Robotics are automating vegetation management for large solar sites, which may reduce maintenance costs by 10-20 percent.

Battery Systems

Innovation is also enhancing battery storage systems, which are increasingly being used to offset the variability in energy production that solar offers.

Key innovations, Energy America said, include solid-state batteries that offer higher energy density, faster charging times and enhanced safety compared to lithium-ion batteries. These batteries also offer longer lifespan and improved charging and discharging capabilities, Greenlancer added, allowing for more efficient utilization of stored solar energy. There are also flow batteries, which provide large-scale and long-duration storage for industrial applications. These new storage systems are being paired with AI to optimize energy storage by predicting energy demand, weather conditions and grid requirements.

While it may take time for a number of these innovations to go into mass production, the far greater efficiency they provide in a variety of ways looks set to make the solar energy sector even better.