Metropolitan Valuation Services
Victor Hugo said, “There is nothing as powerful as an idea whose time has come.” Viewed in the context of today’s world, the same can be said of technology. Once its time has come, new technologies quickly reshape not only their industry, but our lives.
Just as photovoltaic panels are becoming more commonplace, technological advances are creating a new look for solar energy as well as a new range of functionality. Here are nine solar advances to watch for in 2019.
Size Matters
Solar farms are growing bigger all over the globe. The reasons: solar panel costs are going down; the time frame for generating solar is shorter than other energy forms; huge solar sites tend to be off the grid and, thereby, less expensive. Countries with large tracts of sunny land are in the forefront of supersizing. In the U.S., some of the largest farms are, logically, in California, Nevada and Arizona.
There’s a New Kid in Town
The photovoltaic panels in use today are monocrystalline silicon. Costs have gone down so much that there has been little research into alternative technologies. But now a handful of startups are seeking investors to commercialize a new light-gathering material. The perovskite cell uses hybrid lead or tin halide-based material as opposed to silicon and offers the potential for increased efficiency and even lower cost.
Out of the Blue (Black)
Would you like your solar panels in blue-black, blue-black or blue-black? Currently, that’s your only choice. But researchers recently announced they’ve discovered a way to make the panels bright green, paving the way for other colorations which may incentivize residential installation for homeowners who want their solar to blend into their home’s exterior and landscape.
Water, Water Everywhere
But no plastic bottles anywhere. That’s the hope coming from a new technology that uses solar energy to quickly purify water via a small solar device in tablet form. Imagine the uses in countries where water is filthy and bacteria-laden. In the U.S., the first uses may be with hikers, campers and other REI types.
Solar in the Still of the Night
One major drawback in solar energy production is the need for daylight which is why a new technology that allows harvesting after sundown is revolutionary. The technology embeds a thin “nanoantenna” of conducting metal onto a sheet of plastic that captures heat after sunset.
You Can Never Be Too Thin
One would think the development and production of thin solar film that can be rolled out to cover a roof would transform the industry. But, because they are less efficient than photovoltaic panels, the area for installation must be quite large, making them impractical for residential use but viable for commercial and industrial properties.
Homeowners Rule
This year will bring new products such as frameless panels as consumers disliked the existing frame’s appearance; clear panels encased between two pieces of glass that can be beautifully used for skylights, atriums and windows; and double-sided panels that harness energy from sunlight and also from reflection off a roof and the ground.
New House Paint Color: Solar
This year paint has become a potentially viable conductor and collector of solar energy. An innovation from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia, the paint uses both sunlight and moisture to generate energy. According to a report on their website, the material absorbs solar energy as well as moisture from the surrounding air.
And for Our Final Jolt
Perhaps the most fascinating innovation will be thermal batteries that will both store and release heat. Imagine hiking all day while your clothing absorbs sunlight which you can then release to stay warm at night or use to cook dinner instead of a fire. Or a thermal battery that can heat a home or melt away snow. It’s all in the works.
Steven Schleider, MAI, FRICS, LEED AP BD+C, is president of Metropolitan Valuation Services, New York, N.Y.
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