Environment & Energy

xchrom

(108,903 posts) Fri Mar 21, 2014, 07:16 AM Mar 2014

Good news for Seattle: These solar panels work best in overcast weather

http://grist.org/list/good-news-for-seattle-these-solar-panels-work-best-in-overcast-weather/

?w=470&h=265&crop=1

Next time someone snarks, “Too bad solar panels don’t work in when it’s overcast,” spike this fact-volleyball into their thoughtmaker: SOME solar panels actually work BETTER when it’s cloudy out. Bam!

British scientists at the National Physical Laboratory this week created organic photovoltaics, which not only sound delicious but perform better in diffuse light. According to PSFK, they’re 13 percent efficient when it’s overcast, compared to 10 percent when it’s sunny. As principal researcher Fernando Castro explained:

It’s not that they are going to produce more power, but they are more efficient at generating power from the light that is available. So they would work better than normal solar cells do in cloud.

Plus, organic solar cells can be 3D printed into various shapes and even dissolved into water. 3Dprint.com estimates organic PV will be widely available by 2019, noting that it’s super-quick to install:

5 replies

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Good news for Seattle: These solar panels work best in overcast weather (Original Post) xchrom Mar 2014 OP

They dissolve in water? longship Mar 2014 #1

Add a glass-sheet as a protective layer, some sealant on the edges, and done. DetlefK Mar 2014 #2

Here's a video for a home-made organic solar-cell: DetlefK Mar 2014 #3

I didn't know such things existed on youtube! thanks for the post Demeter Mar 2014 #4

K&R. Yes please! Overseas Mar 2014 #5

longship

(40,416 posts)

1. They dissolve in water?

Reply to xchrom (Original post)

Fri Mar 21, 2014, 07:32 AM

Mar 2014

Yup! That'll work really great in Seattle.

DetlefK

(16,423 posts)

2. Add a glass-sheet as a protective layer, some sealant on the edges, and done.

Reply to longship (Reply #1)

Fri Mar 21, 2014, 08:09 AM

Mar 2014

It doesn't have to be glass: You can use even transparent plastic foil, but a solid protective layer is better for outside weather.

DetlefK

(16,423 posts)

3. Here's a video for a home-made organic solar-cell:

Reply to xchrom (Original post)

Fri Mar 21, 2014, 08:21 AM

Mar 2014

Organic solar-cells aren't "delicious". Depending on the chemicals they used, they might cause cancer or be toxic.

There are some organic photovoltaics (OPVs) that use edible components like fruit-juice, but their energy-conversion-ratios suck when compared to newer designs.

There are lots of videos on youtube how to build an organic solar-cell. I randomly picked one example.

Demeter

(85,373 posts)

4. I didn't know such things existed on youtube! thanks for the post

Reply to DetlefK (Reply #3)

Fri Mar 21, 2014, 08:43 AM

Mar 2014

Overseas

(12,121 posts)

5. K&R. Yes please!

Reply to xchrom (Original post)

Fri Mar 21, 2014, 10:16 AM

Mar 2014

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