4 Convenient & Sustainable Solar Panel Innovations to Know

Published 27 August 2024

Author
Nienke Creemers
2 min read

Novel methods for consumers to generate solar energy are booming. In 2023, solar panels had the largest global installation rate among renewable technologies, amounting to 1.41 terawatts (Statista, 2024) – about 1% of the world’s primary energy use (The Economist, 2024). Stylus highlights four notable innovations making renewable energy generation accessible to the wider public.

  • Convenient Plug-In Panels: In Germany, easy-to-install lightweight solar panels for balconies are especially popular. Over 500,000 plug-in solar systems have been installed since 2022 (mostly on balconies), with 220,000 in the first half of 2024 (Euro News, 2024). Noting regional interest, Swiss solar panel manufacturer Meyer Burger launched a balcony solar system specifically for the German market. The solar panels are manufactured in Germany and are customisable to any size. See also German renewable energy company We Do Solar’s photovoltaic solar panels for balconies.

220,000 plug in solar panels were installed in Germany in the first half of 2024

Meyer Burger

We Do Solar

220,000 plug in solar panels were installed in Germany in the first half of 2024

Meyer Burger

We Do Solar

  • See-Through Solar: Japanese solar panel manufacturer InQs presented its SQPV window glass at CES 2024, which is able to generate electricity from sunlight and indoor lights from both sides of the glass. The solar glass could also be used in screens or smartphone displays to power electronic devices.

  • Printable Solar Cells: Japanese tech company Panasonic has developed Perovskite solar cells (efficient, low-cost, transparent solar cells) that can be produced by an inkjet printer. The company aims to use the technology to print the solar cells onto glass windows, walls and facades to turn these surfaces into energy generators.

InQs

Panasonic

Panasonic

InQs

Panasonic

Panasonic

  • Energy On the Go: US-based renewable energy equipment manufacturer Jackery has announced the production (starting late 2024) of a solar generator rooftop tent that is assembled on top of a car. The retractable panels should produce up to 1,000 watts when the tent is open and facing south.

Jackery

Jackery

Jackery

Jackery