EtaVolt, a spin-off from Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore), has developed an innovative device poised to revolutionize the solar industry by rejuvenating and extending the lifespan of both old and new photovoltaic (PV) panels. Successfully field-tested, this technology offers broad applicability, targeting approximately 90% of the existing global PV panel inventory and is now primed for extensive market deployment.
This breakthrough technology assumes paramount significance in tropical regions like Singapore, notorious for accelerating the degradation of solar panels due to harsh environmental conditions. Solar panels, prone to efficiency decline soon after installation, particularly experience a noticeable drop of up to 10% or more within their lifespan’s initial year. This translates into an estimated global energy loss of US$2 billion, considering the vast global 1-terawatt solar power capacity.
Conventionally, maintenance strategies for solar panels involve cleaning the top glass layer or complete module replacements, lacking cost-effective solutions for on-site efficiency restoration. EtaVolt’s Advanced Regeneration Technology targets over 90% of silicon solar cells available, adeptly addressing issues encompassing boron, oxygen, defects, and impurities.
Professor Madhavi, Executive Director of NTU’s Sustainability Office, highlighted the challenge posed by solar panel degradation in tropical regions, emphasizing the absence of effective solutions for restoring and recycling silicon cells, crucial components of solar panels. Dr. Stanley Wang, Co-founder of EtaVolt and Project Manager at ERI@N, emphasized their technology’s robust validation and successful implementation in collaborations with key industry players like Vector Green, signifying its efficiency and potential widespread adoption in various commercial applications.
EtaVolt’s method involves subjecting solar cells to a precise temperature and intense light, stimulating material molecules to repair light and heat-induced damages. This repair process minimizes energy leakage, akin to patching holes in a bucket, ensuring optimal light energy collection.
The innovative device autonomously traverses panels up to 7.5 feet long, facilitating treatment, and potential recovery of up to 5% of lost field performance within five minutes. Depending on the panel type, it offers protection for up to five years, adaptable for indoor use or across expansive outdoor solar farms. This breakthrough technology promises to redefine solar panel maintenance, potentially transforming the efficiency and longevity of solar energy systems worldwide.