Under the Sun

Advancements in solar power

By Joel Nelson on Mar 21, 2019 in Energy, News

Solar energy technology is becoming more powerful and versatile than ever. That’s a good sign for property owners seeking cost and sustainability benefits. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, enough solar photovoltaic capacity—created when semiconducting materials convert sunlight into electricity—was installed in the U.S. in 2018 to power 12.3 million homes, and total installed capacity is expected to more than double over the next five years.

A recent milestone in solar energy development was San Jose, Calif.-based SunPower’s development of the world’s most powerful solar cells for the residential market. They’re capable of delivering 60% more energy than conventional solar panels over 25 years using the same amount of roof space. That might be of particular interest to residents of the manufacturer’s home state, which in 2018 became the first to require that all new homes have solar power.

In another significant breakthrough on the residential front, engineers at Belgian university KU Leuven have created a solar panel prototype capable of converting sunlight directly into hydrogen using moisture in the air. This would give households their own greenhouse gas-free source of fuel for cooking, heating and other activities. They wouldn’t have to rely on industrial-scale production of hydrogen gas, which generates greenhouse emissions. The technology remains under development and it’s unclear when it will be brought to market.

Other developers are working on harnessing solar energy to melt snow on roads during the day and light them at night, power home window curtains and warm car seats. Additional projects encompass everything from battery storage enhancements to aesthetic matters like customizing cells to blend into a roof’s design.

Energy Sage, a service that connects homeowners with solar equipment installers, says, “For those considering solar panels systems, this long list of solar panel technology innovations from recent years is nothing but good news. Efficiency upgrades, storage improvements and equipment capabilities all contribute to more efficient power output for solar panels and lower costs for systems.”

Benefits of solar power for residences include:

• Electricity bill savings. In Hawaii, the first state to set a deadline (2045) for generating 100% of its electricity from renewable sources, residents who add solar panels to their homes save an average of $64,000 over 20 years, according to solar power advocacy organization Energy Informative.
• Pay-as-you-go arrangements under which the solar panel distributor retains ownership and responsibility for managing installation, maintenance and monitoring.
• Increased home values with lower electricity costs.
• Tax incentives.
• Warranty-guaranteed performance.
• Lower conversion factors for ENERGY STAR^®

And, last but certainly not least:

• Positive environmental impact. Energy Informative reports that the average residential solar system offsets about 100,000 pounds of carbon dioxide in 20 years, the equivalent of driving a car 100,000 miles.

Similar benefits are available to commercial property owners, who often must generate ENERGY STAR scores to meet compliance targets and various stakeholders’ sustainability expectations. (The residential version of ENERGY STAR applies to multifamily housing with 20 or more residential units, whether individual buildings or properties with multiple buildings.) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which administers the ENERGY STAR program, reported in a case study that “employing on-site renewable energy can help [retail] stores raise their ENERGY STAR scores, thereby meeting corporate goals such as a specified number of ENERGY STAR certified stores. Additionally, retailers may be able to demonstrate better performance to the public, especially in cities or states with laws requiring public disclosure of energy consumption.”

Read how energy optimization software from Yardi helped increase a 54-story, 1.9 million-square-foot building’s ENERGY STAR score by 58%.