We’ve always known solar panels to be flat, but a Japanese company aims to phase that form factor out by developing a spherical equivalent that is more efficient and by far cheaper to manufacture. Dubbed the Sphelar, this perfectly round solar cell can come in sizes no larger than 1mm in diameter. When used in the hundreds or thousands (serial or parallel), it can be formed into a solar panel of any shape you desire. The change in form factor allows it to generate electricity from both direct and indirect sunshine – basically soaking up the sun’s rays wherever and whenever possible, unlike traditional flat solar panels. Manufacturing it is also way more efficient since you need less silicon to make a Sphelar compared to a conventional solar cell. Guess virtually any device can be solar-powered in the future with the Sphelar, including window sills and the ilk.
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