This Maker Constructs DIY Solar Panels as Functional Art Pieces

Solarpanelefficiencyandmanufacturingcostshaveimprovedtremendouslyoverthepastcoupleofdecades,tothepointwheresolarenergyisnowoftencheaperthanfossilfuelenergy.Assuch,solarpanelsarenowcommonplaceandlacktheexcitingfeelofnewtechnologythattheyoncehad.Butthat’sonlybecausewe’reusedtoseeingthesameoldpolycrystallineandmonocrystallinepanels—drabgridsofdarksquares.ShihWei-Chiehbuildsthingsdifferently,constructingDIYsolarpanelsasfunctionalartpieces. Allphotovoltaicsolarpanelsworkinthesameway,byrelyingontheenergyfromlighttoexciteelectronsandcreateelectricpotential.Butthematerialsandtechniquesusedtoharnessthatphotovoltaiceffectvary.Accordingtoa2024reportpublishedbytheFraunhoferInstituteforSolarEnergySystems,97%ofthephotovoltaiccellsproducedin2023madeuseofSi-wafertechnology(monocrystallineand,toamuchlesserextent,polycrystalline). IttakesalotofsophisticatedequipmentandprocessestomanufacturesolarpanelsthatrelyonSi-wafertechnology.Humblema