Harnessing the power of sunlight can mean more than just laying solar panels on rooftops or putting them on motorized swivels to track the sun across the sky. MIT researchers have built solar panel towers and cubes capable of generating as much as 20 times more power compared with fixed, flat panels with the same base area.
Although these solar panels cost more compared to the ordinary flat panels, they can create higher energy output for a given size physical footprint. The solar towers also collect much more sunlight during the mornings, evenings and winters - regardless of clouds or shadows, making it more reliable source for the power grid.
"I think this concept could become an important part of the future of photovoltaics," said Jeffrey Grossman, a professor of power engineering at MIT.
Their efforts led to power boosts ranging from double the usual energy output to 20 times the energy output of fixed, flat solar panels. The biggest power boosts came in scenarios such as locations far from the equator, in winter months and on cloudier days.
Although these solar panels cost more compared to the ordinary flat panels, they can create higher energy output for a given size physical footprint. The solar towers also collect much more sunlight during the mornings, evenings and winters - regardless of clouds or shadows, making it more reliable source for the power grid.
"I think this concept could become an important part of the future of photovoltaics," said Jeffrey Grossman, a professor of power engineering at MIT.
Their efforts led to power boosts ranging from double the usual energy output to 20 times the energy output of fixed, flat solar panels. The biggest power boosts came in scenarios such as locations far from the equator, in winter months and on cloudier days.
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