Panels coated with the new composite absorb moisture at night and release it during the day for passive cooling. Credit: Heno Hwang (KAUST)
The Heat Problem in Solar Panels
Solar panels turn sunlight into electricity, but they also get very hot. Too much heat lowers their efficiency and wears out their parts faster. Usually, people use active cooling systems like fans or pumps to cool them down. However, these systems need extra energy and can cost more to maintain.
An Innovative Cooling Material
Researchers at KAUST created a new material that cools solar panels without using extra energy. The material contains lithium chloride and sodium polyacrylate, which can absorb moisture from the air at night and release it during the day. This natural process helps keep the panels cooler and protects them from heat damage.
Testing the Material in Real Conditions
Strong Results from Field Tests
- Power output increased by 12.9%
- Panel lifespan more than tripled
- Operating temperature dropped by 9.4°C
- Electricity generation costs cut by nearly 20%
These benefits appeared not only in the hot Saudi desert but also in cooler, rainy places in the United States. This shows the material works well in different climates.
What This Means for Solar Energy
This new material can change how solar panels work. By keeping panels cooler naturally, it improves their efficiency and lifespan. Also, it removes the need for energy-consuming cooling devices, making solar power cleaner and cheaper.
What’s Next?
As the world uses more renewable energy, innovations like this are very important. The next steps are to produce the material on a larger scale and fit it into current solar panel designs. This could help solar power spread faster around the world.
Think About It
How do you think natural cooling methods will impact the future of renewable energy? Join the conversation and share your ideas!
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Reference: “Streamlined fabrication of an inexpensive hygroscopic composite for low maintenance evaporative cooling of solar panels” by Huangyu Fang, Saichao Dang, Prasanth Kumar, Jiake Wang, Lujia Xu, Yingkun Zhu, Abdullah Almogbel, Abdulrahman Albadri, Stefaan De Wolf and Qiaoqiang Gan, 16 May 2025, Materials Science and Engineering: R: Reports.
DOI: 10.1016/j.mser.2025.101016
