The optical-solar panel, a promising innovation

Created by Canadian company Crystal Green Energy, the optical-solar panel maximizes energy production.

First of all, this system contains bulbs which allow the solar rays to be concentrated towards the photovoltaic cells. This is already increasing their yield.

In addition to that, a copper plate is positioned under the cells. This plate heats with solar radiation and will heat the water that passes through an exchanger just below. This domestic hot water can be used in a house.

But that’s not all. To these technologies, they added a motorized system that allows the module to follow the course of the sun.

All this on a smaller panel than conventional panels. You can then choose between: installing fewer panels for the same production or installing more panels for higher production.

This allows the optical-solar panel to have an efficiency of almost 40%.

This solution produces a lot of energy, but the purchase cost is excessive.

In addition, production of this type of installation cannot be started because the company must first obtain sufficient funds.

New type of solar panel: The night panel

You did not dream. Nocturnal sounds impossible, doesn’t it? Well think again.

These are only prototypes now, but engineers have managed to get solar panels to generate power at night.

The night panel uses heat flows to generate electricity. At night, the panels release the heat stored during the day to cool. This change in temperature allows thermoregulatory cells to produce electrical energy.

Of course, the energy production is much less than that of the day but it can produce about 25% of what it produces during the day. This would increase your self-production rate and be completely independent from the public grid.

No more need for connection. As long as you do not operate devices that consume a lot of kWh at night.

At the moment, this is only a prototype. It’s all very theoretical. But one can easily imagine that technological advances will make it possible to develop this promising innovation.

Solar panels integrated into buildings for an ever more aesthetic rendering


BIPV or Building Integrated Photovoltaics are solar modules used in place of traditional building materials.

They blend into the architecture of the building which makes them more aesthetic. They can be used to form a roof, awning or facade.

If you are looking for solar panel deals, BIPVs save money on construction equipment and future electricity bills. They also improve the building’s insulation and energy efficiency.

A tailor-made design: SolarSkin technology

SolarSkin panels are made by an American company called Sistine.

These solar modules come in the form of screens that display an image of your choice. On a rooftop installation, the panels can display an image identical to the tiles on the rest of the roof. On ground modules, a lawn image can be displayed. This makes the panels much more discreet.

It can be very interesting for companies. They could install this type of sign to benefit from green electricity while displaying their logo or advertising campaigns on it.

These screens filter the sunlight to return it to the photovoltaic cells.

‍SolarSkin solar panels have a tailor-made design. The manufacturer of SolarSkin panels is currently working to improve their performance. This would make it possible to combine aesthetics and efficiency.

The major downside to this solution is its price. It costs around 10% more than a conventional installation.

New solar panel: Floating panels

This is not a recent invention, but floating panels have been in use for a short time. The first French floating photovoltaic park saw the light of day in Vaucluse in 2019. 47,000 photovoltaic panels were installed on an artificial lake. It is the most powerful floating power plant in Europe.

Floating panels allow energy to be generated without using viable land for agriculture or building construction. They are most often installed at sea in non-navigable areas or in artificial lakes with polluted water.

The water helps cool the modules and improve their performance. At the same time, the panels act as a screen between the sun and the water, which helps reduce the heating of lakes and reservoirs. This helps reduce the appearance of algae and the natural evaporation of water.

This type of installation is expected to increase in 2021 and in the years to come.

A French innovation: The solar parasol

Created by two French engineers, the solar parasol should quickly make its appearance on the beaches.

This parasol is equipped with a small photovoltaic panel that allows you to charge your devices via a USB port when you are outdoors.

Not to mention that it withstands winds of over 100 km / h. There is no risk of blowing off at the slightest gust of wind. You can buy it now on their website.

Solar continues to gain momentum

All these innovations are boosted by a constantly increasing demand. Some major players are even taking decisions in this direction.

‍California takes unprecedented steps. ‍Starting this year, all new construction in California will need to be fitted with solar panels. It is the first state in the world to take this kind of initiative.

This move runs counter to Trump’s fossil fuel policy. This clearly shows California’s desire to turn more to renewable energies. Hopefully this decision will serve as an example for other American states, for France and other countries.

SNCF turns to solar energy

Did you know that SNCF is the company that consumes the most electricity in France? It is a definite advantage for them to turn to solar energy to reduce her energy bill.

SNCF has decided to equip its stations and premises with photovoltaic panels. The Gare du Nord in Paris is expected to accommodate several thousand square meters of solar panels by 2024.

‍It is to be hoped that this decision continue in this direction and that it gives ideas to other major French economic players.

New generation solar panels: They are already on the market

While waiting for all the innovations of which we spoke, one can already count on the last generation of solar panels. We start with the Maxeon panel, it is a Sunpower product.

The Maxeon: a new generation photovoltaic solar panel


The Maxeon 5 AC has a power of 415 Watt peak (Wp). Which is a lot. To give you an idea, a panel that exceeds 375 Wp becomes a powerful panel.

To take it a step further, the Maxeon 5 AC is equipped with a built-in microinverter. This way, all the panels are independent and nothing can interfere with the production of the entire installation.

In short, it belongs to a generation of very powerful and also very robust solar panels. It is still producing 92% of its full capacity after 25 years of use.

New generation photovoltaics are becoming hybrids

This time it’s Dualsun to be thanked for this innovation. In fact, a photovoltaic panel produces a lot of heat when it is exposed to the sun. On top of that, it produces less electricity when it’s hot.

By installing hybrid panels, we recover the heat and in addition we optimize the production of electricity. Your panel therefore produces two energies (heat and electricity) while being more efficient.