The ability to be 100% energy independent seemed a lofty dream just a few years ago. Now, thanks to the latest developments in solar technology, that dream could become reality a lot sooner than expected. Reaching a state of energy independence is important for two main reasons:
- It cuts down on traditional energy consumption from non-renewable sources
- It helps people and businesses reduce their energy bills
Imagine living a life where you didn’t need to rely on a utility provider for electricity. It sounds too good to be true, but let’s take a closer look at some of the current and emerging technologies that help make this possible.
Photo by Giorgio Trovato on UnsplashBetter Solar Panel Efficiency
One of the reasons an energy-independent future seemed so far away was due to the poor efficiency of solar panels. The technology started out as a clever way of generating electricity from solar energy, but with one significant drawback: they were under 20% efficient.
As such, experts spent the last few years developing better solar panel technology to increase the efficiency to heights we’ve never seen before. Most solar panels now sit above 20%, with the majority falling between 21 and 23% efficiency. Furthermore, developers like Oxford PV have managed to go beyond this, topping out at an industry-leading 25% efficiency.
The growth in solar panel efficiency means they’re better at their job, which allows for more solar energy to be converted into electricity. In turn, houses and commercial buildings can harness more renewable energy from the sun – to the point where it’s possible for some properties to rely on just solar energy throughout the day.
Improvements In Solar Battery Technology
The simple presence of solar batteries adds more weight to the idea of being energy independent. Introduced as a new addition to a solar system, batteries help you store energy for later use. They’re now provided by any commercial and residential solar installer, unlocking a whole new way to use solar energy.
Batteries themselves are good enough to assist with energy independence because they let you use solar energy during sub-optimal conditions. For example, the battery stores solar power during the day and lets you use it at night. Even though there’s no sun for the solar panels to absorb, your property manages to operate using solar energy.
It was already a big step, but new developments make these batteries even better.
Companies are slowly realising that traditional lithium-ion batteries aren’t optimal for this type of technology. While these batteries work for other uses, the nature of solar batteries means they need to survive many cycles and be suitable for charging and discharging frequently. According to Kings Research, the following solar battery technologies are creeping into the market:
- Solid-state batteries: Able to store more energy and propose less fire hazards.
- Sodium-ion batteries: A more affordable and sustainable alternative that works better in harsh weather conditions.
- Lithium iron phosphate batteries: Seen as better at dealing with daily charge/discharge cycles and having a longer lifespan than lithium-ion.
This particular vein of technology keeps improving, and this is great news for energy independency. The end goal is a battery that can store enough solar energy to power an entire home or building for at least a day or more. Furthermore, there’s the idea of making batteries smaller yet still highly effective, allowing for multiple battery storage options on-site. It could allow homeowners or commercial properties to store electricity for days via solar power, reducing their need to dip into the national grid.
Integrating Solar Technology Within Buildings
While inefficiencies held solar panels back for years, another issue coincides with this: their general structure. Try as you might, it’s not possible to install solar panels that cover an entire roof. There will always be slight gaps here and there – and sometimes a significant portion of the roof is uncovered due to the size and shape of the panels.
To provide some context behind this, solar panels normally take up just 40-80% of usable roof space. In terms of the total roof area, they’re only covering a maximum of 60%. That wastes a lot of real estate, but that’s where integrated solar technology makes significant strides.
The most well-known example of this is the Tesla solar roof, which gets rid of solar panels in favor of a built-in solar system. Effectively, your entire roof is one big network of solar roof tiles – which means it usually offers this level of coverage:
- 80-100% of usable roof space
- 75-95% of total roof space
Integrating solar technology like this means you maximize solar production and can therefore use and store more solar energy. When combined with an efficient battery, it brings households way closer to a sense of energy independence. Moreover, while solar roof tiles aren’t as efficient as panels right now, it’s still a relatively new technology. We’ve already seen how solar panels have managed to increase their efficiency, so expect integrated solar solutions to follow.
The best thing about this technology is that it can be implemented across new-build homes with ease, meaning homeowners can move into properties that are more energy independent than ever before.
Turning EVs Into Solar Batteries
There’s not much research or discussion on this yet, but experts believe that EVs hold the key to better energy independence. It’s due to their batteries being large and efficient enough to power a home for numerous days. The fascinating idea here is that a solar system diverts energy to the car, powering the battery, and then the car sends energy back to the home in the evening if required.
When used correctly, it can create a situation where EVs become backup power generators that receive full charges from solar energy. There’s so much potential here, but more research must be done to see if it’s truly as feasible as it seems.
It’s critical to note that many of these technologies are either theoretical or just starting to emerge into the public space. Energy independence is likely impossible for many households or businesses right now, but it won’t be long before we see increased numbers of properties running on pure solar energy.
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