Flexible solar panels
One of the most important breakthroughs in the history of solar power was the development of flexible solar panels. Before this advancement, solar power was limited to special applications, but flexible solar panels made it possible to use power from the sun in an infinite variety of ways.
The first solar panels were made of rigid, inflexible cells. They had to be mounted in place, usually on the roof of a house or business. Each panel was extremely expensive, bulky and quite heavy. These panels were primarily used for large-scale electrical production. It wasn’t practical to carry them around, especially given the fact that they had to be installed by specialists.
All solar panels are produced by applying a photovoltaic material to a solid material called a substrate. The substrate forms the shape of the panel and allows the solar cells to be stacked on top of each other. The first substrates were all made of rigid silicon, but researchers soon learned how to use amorphous and protocrystalline silicon, among other kinds, as substrates. These forms of silicon are much more flexible, and thus the flexible solar panel was born.
Today flexible solar panels are among the most versatile gadgets in the world. They are integrated into calculators, into backpacks and even into laptops. The military uses flexible solar panels to power remote communications equipment and to charge
electronic devices. Outdoor enthusiasts attach flexible solar panels to boats, recreational vehicles, cars and even golf carts.
Some of these panels go beyond being merely flexible. Foldable panels can be folded for easy storage, as can rollable panels. Both were originally developed for military use but have migrated into the civilian market. Campers and backpackers can take sheets of these panels into the farthest reaches of the wilderness and still have power. When it’s time to move they simply roll or fold the sheet of solar panels, put them in a backpack and head off. Many of these panels are also waterproof!
The number of ways flexible solar panels are used is increasing all the time. They now come integrated into some roofing products, such as the new solar shingles. The roofing panels can even be walked upon! A European company has also found a way to integrate flexible solar cells into a special window glazing, where they both tint the windows and generate a portion of the building’s electricity.
Solar power is a rapidly changing field. New breakthroughs are being made all the time. The development of flexible solar panels was one of the most revolutionary advancements, but it certainly won’t be the last.