Researchers have developed an innovative cooling gel that protects solar panels from overheating, especially crucial as the UK experiences increasing heatwaves. This gel, composed of sodium polyacrylate and lithium chloride, effectively absorbs moisture overnight and releases it as vapor during the day, cooling the panels by up to 14.1°C. This results in a nearly 13% boost in energy output and more than 200% extension of solar panel lifespan, making solar energy more reliable amid climate change-induced temperature rises.
This affordable, low-maintenance gel could help make solar power more reliable during hot spells - a growing concern as climate change pushes temperatures higher.
The gel maintained a temperature reduction averaging 9.4°C over a 10-hour period, peaking at 14.1°C on hot days.
The solar PV gel is a composite made from sodium polyacrylate and lithium chloride... it absorbs water from the air overnight and then slowly releases that water as vapour during the day.
This material can lower panel temperatures by up to 14.1°C, boosting energy output by nearly 13% while extending the lifespan of solar panels by more than 200%.
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