The Newest Solar Technologies That Can Revolutionize The Industry
Solar energy is a great way to pull the plug and save so much on energy bills with the sun’s infinite source of light and heat energy. As technology continues to improve, the world’s manufacturers continue to show promise in various solar energy technologies. Here are three of the newest solar energy technologies that can revolutionize the entire industry from 2022 and beyond.
Energy-Saving Micro-Inverters
Micro-inverters are small, lightweight, and very efficient units used to convert the DC generated by solar panels into AC. The inverter is generally mounted close to the PV array to minimize energy losses and reduce operational expenses.
Today, China’s Hoymiles Power Electronics unveiled its ultra-powerful, energy-saving HMS-2000 micro-inverter capable of connecting 4-in-1 modules that reduce energy expenditure, losses, and installation time because of lower module installation requirements for solar panels. Learn more about it here.
High-Efficiency Solar Panels
The higher wattage and efficiency solar panel is best to use because it allows more solar cells to catch sunlight and convert it into usable electricity. This is the main reason Panasonic continues its research, giving us the 410/400W EverVolt H series of solar panels. According to the manufacturer, the panels can generate up to 400-410W of electricity for any home with a 22.6% efficiency. You can learn more about this new solar panel here.
Easy-Installation Solar Shingles
Tesla dominated the solar shingle technology with its own line of high-quality, high-tech solar shingles. However, GAF simplifies the process by creating an asphalt shingle system capable of collecting solar energy while functioning as a normal shingle would. It only requires a few days or less to install. Here’s a great feature from ElecTrek below.
In September 2021, Timberline Solar achieved UL’s 7103 certification, which authorizes GAF Energy to install the system on residential roofs as a roofing product and a solar energy product — the first of its kind to be recognized as both.
GAF Energy also worked with Albuquerque-based Sandia National Laboratories, a US Department of Energy research and development lab, to verify the product’s strength, durability, and overall market readiness.
One of Sandia’s missions is to drive technical innovation in the solar sector as part of a broader DOE effort to lower the cost, increase the efficiency, and further the deployment of solar technologies.
Over five million new roofs are installed on US homes each year – one out of every four of those roofs come from GAF. With access to GAF’s national contractor network, GAF Energy is well positioned to grow residential solar in the mass market.
Martin DeBono, president of GAF Energy, said:
At GAF Energy, we have the capacity to scale this technology like no one else through GAF, bringing an integrated solar product that is weatherproof, affordable, and design-minded to homeowners across the country.
The Energy Shingles will be manufactured at the company’s new facility in San Jose, California, and launched this month.
Electrek’s Take
GAF Energy didn’t give us the specifications or prices of these new tiles, so we don’t know how efficient they are in terms of generating energy, or how costly they are. But if we assume that they’re efficient, and not exorbitantly priced, these could be a real game changer.
It just makes sense to combine roofing and solar installation, as GAF Energy is doing. If the process is streamlined, then more home owners will adopt rooftop solar. (Continue reading here to learn more)
