A team of 40 researchers from the department of physics at Oxford University has created a new flexible coating that could help reduce the need for bulky traditional solar panels. The coating is made from a mineral called perovskite and is thin enough to be applied to everyday objects. The versatile cells could potentially be used as a way to keep phones and other devices charged as people go about their daily lives, or to create solar-powered infrastructure on vehicles and buildings.
The perovskite cells are approximately one micron thick, which means they are 150 times thinner than silicon-based solar panels. Independent tests show that they are at least as efficient as traditional solar panels, converting 27% of the sun’s energy into electricity. The scientists behind the innovation believe that they can push efficiency levels up to 45% in future iterations, and that perovskite cells could eventually replace silicon-based panels altogether.
Perovskite solar cells are being produced at a factory in Germany by UK firm Oxford PV, which was founded by a professor of renewable energy and operates in partnership with Oxford University Physics. There are calls for the UK government to provide more support to companies that are developing new, more sustainable forms of renewable energy. Solar energy is already among the most efficient and affordable forms of renewable energy. Since 2010, the global average cost of solar electricity has fallen by almost 90%, making it almost a third cheaper than fossil fuel-based energy.
Positive News, which published the report on the solar breakthrough, is an independent not-for-profit news outlet that reports on positive stories about society and the environment. The publication relies on financial contributions from its readers in order to continue operating. Its readership has grown amid concerns about the negative effects of traditional news media on people’s mental health, with some researchers linking consuming negative news to increased feelings of anxiety and depression
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