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Scientists from Britain are rewriting the future of space energy.
Scientists from the University of Surrey and Swansea University in the UK believe that solar farms in space will become a reality without the need for new and expensive technologies.
During a unique experiment that was conducted in September 2016, a team of researchers sent four test solar cell panels based on cadmium telluride (CdTe) to space on the kubsat satellite. According to a recently published article, the test cells have demonstrated high resistance to ionizing solar radiation and continue to function even after six years, although the initial expectations were only a year of operation.
Professor Craig Underwood, from the University of Surrey, said the results of the experiment prove that CdTe-based solar panel technology can be used to create large, low-cost space-based solar stations that will deliver clean energy to Earth.
It is worth noting that solar panels based on cadmium telluride are not an innovation. They are the second most popular solar cells in the world after silicon solar cells. But this experiment was the first time such batteries were tested in space. The results of the study indicate the possibility of abandoning silicon batteries in favor of CdTe for future space missions.
However, researchers have faced the challenge of reducing the efficiency of these batteries in space. The reason is the movement of gold inside the panel, which led to the formation of microshunts between the layers. To fix the problem, scientists propose to change the design of part of the panel using the methods used for ground-based solar modules based on CdTe.
However, despite all the success, scientists are faced with the task of developing a method for transferring energy collected in space to Earth. The first experiments in this direction have already been conducted by researchers from the California Institute of Technology, but so far this is only a proof of concept. Efficient energy transfer will require large-scale satellites and powerful Earth-based receivers.
Scientists from the University of Surrey and Swansea University in the UK believe that solar farms in space will become a reality without the need for new and expensive technologies.
During a unique experiment that was conducted in September 2016, a team of researchers sent four test solar cell panels based on cadmium telluride (CdTe) to space on the kubsat satellite. According to a recently published article, the test cells have demonstrated high resistance to ionizing solar radiation and continue to function even after six years, although the initial expectations were only a year of operation.
Professor Craig Underwood, from the University of Surrey, said the results of the experiment prove that CdTe-based solar panel technology can be used to create large, low-cost space-based solar stations that will deliver clean energy to Earth.
It is worth noting that solar panels based on cadmium telluride are not an innovation. They are the second most popular solar cells in the world after silicon solar cells. But this experiment was the first time such batteries were tested in space. The results of the study indicate the possibility of abandoning silicon batteries in favor of CdTe for future space missions.
However, researchers have faced the challenge of reducing the efficiency of these batteries in space. The reason is the movement of gold inside the panel, which led to the formation of microshunts between the layers. To fix the problem, scientists propose to change the design of part of the panel using the methods used for ground-based solar modules based on CdTe.
However, despite all the success, scientists are faced with the task of developing a method for transferring energy collected in space to Earth. The first experiments in this direction have already been conducted by researchers from the California Institute of Technology, but so far this is only a proof of concept. Efficient energy transfer will require large-scale satellites and powerful Earth-based receivers.
