Put sunlight in the tube
Wheat Noodles,Whole Wheat Noodles,Whole Wheat Lasagne Noodles,Whole Wheat Ramen YANBIAN ALALI FOOD CO. LTD , https://www.alalinoodles.com
September 04 11:55:56, 2025
A groundbreaking solar panel design featuring 40 flexible, tube-like structures resembling light sticks has been introduced. This innovative approach replaces traditional flat panels and effectively addresses the challenge of sunlight direction, making solar energy more versatile and efficient.
Solar power is known for being a cost-effective and user-friendly method of generating electricity. However, its real-world application still faces some challenges. One key issue is that if the sun's position changes, and it doesn't directly hit the solar panel, the overall cost for a household to install and maintain a solar system can rise significantly.
To tackle this problem, a California-based company has developed a new type of solar panel specifically designed to adapt to varying sunlight directions. This advancement could make solar technology more practical and accessible for a wider range of users.
Traditional solar panels consist of silicon-based photovoltaic cells, similar to those found in computer chips. These cells capture photons from sunlight and convert them into electrical current. Solydra, a leading solar energy manufacturer, uses advanced techniques to produce photovoltaics, much like companies such as First Solar and Nano Solar. By using fewer materials, these panels are not only more affordable but also incorporate steel, glass, and plastic at the base, further reducing costs.
The most promising component of these thin-film solar devices is CIGS (Copper Indium Gallium Selenide). While it may not be as efficient as silicon in converting sunlight into electricity, it offers significant benefits, including lower production costs and greater flexibility.
Sorrera, one of the pioneers in this field, coated the CIGS with a layer of glass and placed it inside a sealed glass tube, which resembles a light stick. Forty of these tubes are combined into a single solar panel. Replacing flat panels with tubes allows the device to capture sunlight from all angles, including scattered and reflected light. This makes the system more efficient and adaptable.
Unlike conventional solar panels, which need to be angled and carefully positioned to avoid shading, tubular panels can be installed horizontally across an entire roof. Additionally, their lightweight design makes them easier to install and adjust to different environments. According to Soredra, the installation cost of this new technology is expected to be half that of traditional solar panels.
With over 30 billion square feet of rooftops in the U.S., Soredra’s CEO, Chris Gronet, is looking toward a bright future. “These rooftops have the potential to generate 15 billion kilowatts of electricity—enough to power 16 million homes,†he said. This innovation could play a major role in expanding clean energy access across the country.