New Bifacial Solar Panels Capture Light From Both Sides, Boosting Efficiency
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📰 The quick summary: New bifacial solar panels developed through a partnership between UbiQD and First Solar capture sunlight from both sides, significantly boosting efficiency by transforming previously lost light into usable energy.
📈 One key stat: The new solar technology aims to exceed 30% efficiency with durability of up to 30 years, substantially outperforming conventional solar panels.
💬 One key quote: “According to the UbiQD CEO, Hunter McDaniel, this dual-sided solar offering signifies an exciting twist for the quantum dot industry.”
1️⃣ The big picture: Scientists have developed innovative solar panels that can harvest light from both the front and back sides, creating a major advancement in solar technology. UbiQD and First Solar partnered to integrate quantum dot technology into bifacial solar panels, enabling the capture of both direct and reflected sunlight. These quantum dots transform less useful light wavelengths into forms that solar cells can absorb more effectively. The collaboration combines UbiQD’s expertise in quantum dots with First Solar’s thin cadmium telluride panels to create a more efficient renewable energy solution.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: The bifacial design dramatically improves solar panel efficiency by capturing light that would normally be lost, extracting maximum energy from available sunlight. The technology uses Earth-abundant materials like copper, zinc, and sulfur rather than rarer elements, making production more sustainable. With $20 million in Series B funding, UbiQD plans to build the largest quantum dot production facility in New Mexico, capable of producing 100 metric tons annually. This scalable solution combines improved performance with cost-effectiveness, potentially accelerating the global transition to renewable energy.
3️⃣ What’s next: Engineers must now obtain third-party validation for these modules to verify their performance under real-world conditions. The technology needs to be embedded into millions of solar modules to achieve large-scale impact. If successful, this quantum dot integration will represent the first major deployment of the technology in energy-generating infrastructure.
Read the full story here: Ecoticias – Reflection symphony — This solar panel harvests light from both sides
