Biomimicry Solar Panels

The researchers discovered that a design inspired by.

Biomimicry solar panels.

How they work is in through the use of small flexible solar cells which mimic leaves. When the solar concentrator is placed next to a thin film solar panel the printed area reflects the uv light on the panel increasing the current produced. Solar panels are usually made of. In such a solar plant an array of mirrors redirects the light to a central point where the rays are converted to electricity.

Turns out some researchers at mit have used biomimicry to make a potentially huge breakthrough in developing next gen solar energy systems. Practically the heliotropic solar panel could be useful in developing areas where motor based sun tracking panels are not affordable. Until now solar power has been a daytime only energy source because storing extra solar energy for later use is prohibitively expensive and grossly inefficient. With today s announcement mit researchers have hit upon a simple inexpensive highly efficient process for storing solar energy.

Plastic solar panels imitate photosynthesis. Scientists from mit and rwth aachen looked at the geometric arrangement in sunflowers during their research to reduce the land use of concentrated solar power plants. Several new cutting edge research project are looking at biomimetic solutions to solar s nagging problems. Current sun tracking solar panels involve the use of motors and electronic control systems but we believe a biomimetic heliotropic solar panel can be created with the use of alternative materials and designs.

Students drew this concept from research on traditional fluorescent solar concentrators which use luminescent paint to concentrate absorbed uv rays and emit at longer wavelengths.