Saudi Cooling Technology Cuts Solar Panel Heat by 49°F, Triples Lifespan and Boosts Output
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📰 The quick summary: Scientists at Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah University developed a passive cooling system for solar panels that reduces operating temperature by 49°F, boosting power output by 13% and extending panel lifespans threefold.
📈 One key stat: Solar panels treated with the new cooling technology remained 48.9°F cooler than untreated panels, delivering 12.9% more power while potentially reducing electricity generation costs by nearly 20%.
💬 One key quote: “These materials can be applied to various systems that require cooling, such as greenhouses and solar cells, without compromising their performance,” emphasizes Qiaoqiang Gan, PhD, a materials science and engineering professor at KAUST.
1️⃣ The big picture: Scientists at Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah University have created a breakthrough cooling technology for solar panels that addresses one of the industry’s biggest challenges. The innovative composite uses lithium chloride and sodium polyacrylate to passively cool panels through absorbing and releasing moisture, without requiring additional electricity like conventional cooling systems. During testing in harsh desert conditions, the system kept panels significantly cooler, boosting power output and dramatically extending their lifespan. This technology arrives as global solar capacity continues its rapid expansion, with the world adding 451.9 gigawatts of new solar capacity in 2024 alone.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: The cooling technology enhances solar panel efficiency and durability while addressing a fundamental issue of heat degradation that plagues current installations worldwide. Unlike traditional cooling methods that consume additional power, this passive system requires zero electricity to operate, making it truly sustainable. The technology has proven effective across diverse climate conditions, from the Saudi desert to the coolest and wettest US regions, demonstrating its universal applicability. By tripling the lifespan of panels and reducing electricity generation costs by nearly 20%, the innovation makes solar energy more economically viable and environmentally friendly through reduced waste and resource consumption.
3️⃣ What’s next: Researchers plan to continue refining the composite materials to maximize cooling efficiency and durability in various environments. Industry partnerships will be crucial for scaling up production and integrating this technology into commercial solar panel manufacturing processes. The team at KAUST will pursue additional applications for their cooling technology beyond solar panels, including potential uses in greenhouses and other heat-sensitive systems.
Read the full story here: Sustainability Times – “Desert Tech Breaks Physics”: Saudi Cooling System Slashes Solar Panel Heat by 49°F, Triples Lifespan, Surges Energy Output
