While it does have its merits (it’s green and free minus the cost of the solar panels), one of the main problems with using solar power is its efficiency: it takes a long time to store energy using solar panels, and when it does, the stored energy usually isn’t a lot. A large surface area is required to capture a lot of energy, which can be a waste of space especially when the panels aren’t being used in an open area.
Researchers have been trying to figure out ways to improve the efficiency of using solar power and while there’s no one absolute solution at the moment there have been interesting solutions i.e. the 3D solar cell. Well the folks over at Smart Solar International, Japan have developed a solution in the form of a solar device that follows the sun.
The solar panel device makes use of aluminum mirror bars that rotate as the sun moves across the sky. The sunlight is then reflected into a central tube that is packed with high-performance, multi-layered solar cells. This method is said to require far less silicon – the most expensive component – than conventional larger flat solar panels. The tube also has a system to prevent overheating and can use the excess heat to heat water, giving the device a 2-in-1 functionality.
Sample sales will begin this October with overseas sales targeting Asia and the Middle East set for 2014 or earlier. In the meantime, they will be sending their solar devices over to the disaster regions in Japan that were affected by the recent tsunami and earthquake.