We live in a digital era where “staying connected” is more important now than ever before. From keeping a fully charged phone to computers with high computing power, in order to fully meet the world’s energy demands, we need a source of energy that’s most abundant… What’s that energy source? Well, it’s certainly not fossil fuels… It’s solar power.
Solar power is constantly being innovated with new advancements. People can now power their homes with clean renewable energy. And businesses are even stepping their game up with more eco-friendly practices as they’re not only good for the environment but they’re finding that consumers support businesses more that are environmentally conscious.
But, of course, there is still more work to be done in the renewable resources industry, yet the industry has already broken so many barriers with advancements. Let’s take a look at some of the latest innovations in solar technology thus far.
Solar Technology Innovations to Be on the Lookout For in 2021
Solar Paint
Long gone are the days where you had to live in a house and have solar panels installed on your roof or in your yard to power your home with solar energy, or what we like to call free power. Soon enough you’ll be able to power your entire home with paint that contains particles that capture the sun’s energy. This innovation is currently at 3-8% in efficiency, whereas solar panel installation is at 18% efficiency, so there is still more work being done on solar paint but it’s definitely an innovation that’s currently being worked on and you should definitely keep your eyes and ears open for news on its progress.
Solar Roads
The world of solar transportation is definitely making strides but where the real innovation lies are in the advancements of solar roads. Countries all over the world, including the US, have been working on initiatives to launch solar roads. Solar roads would basically be solar panels designed to withstand the weight of cars and weather. When this initiative comes to fruition, engineers predict that it will not only eliminate greenhouse gases but would produce 3x the energy that the world even uses… It will be interesting to see where this innovation goes.
Textile Solar
In the past, we’ve seen solar innovation in things like watches and calculators but new innovations in solar energy have come about in the form of textiles. How so? Well, tiny solar panels can now be stitched into the fabric of our clothing! And the innovation doesn’t just stop there, either. Just as these tiny panels can be stitched into clothing, they can also be stitched into household items like curtains and rugs.
This is by far one of the most innovative ways to utilize solar energy the world has seen thus far, and we have textile designer Marianne Fairbanks to thank and chemist Trisha Andrew to thank as well. Without brilliant minds like theirs, the world would be stuck wearing regular clothes! But just like the other innovations, this too is not quite ready to be pushed out to the world just yet, but know that it is in the works.
Keep your sights on the solar industry. There are many innovations in the works and on the rise this coming year. Stay tuned to see what the remainder of the year has to offer!
