New solar panels that do not need sunlight

The arrival of solar panels made a big difference in what was clean, renewable energy at the time. This is because, although it is not yet used for its intended purpose today, it has been one of the methods found to produce more sustainable energy.

However, it has a problem: being powered by sunlight, when the sun is out of sight the panel’s effectiveness decreases.

The limitations of solar panels triggered the idea
Since solar energy is a major source of clean and renewable energy, it is only natural for experts to look for ways to make the most of it.  However, since solar panels are powered by sunlight when it is not visible, the efficiency of the panels, and consequently the entire energy transformation process, decreases.
So with that in mind, a student named Carvey Maigue won the Dyson Sustainability Award, with a slightly different solar panel system.  In other words, the electrical engineering student from Mapua University in the Philippines has developed solar panels that collect invisible ultraviolet sunlight.  This, even if a dense amount of clouds prevents the passage.
As stated by the student, the goal is that, in the future, these solar panels are installed on the windows and walls of large buildings, so that they become constant sources of energy.  This could be done by perfecting the project, with the $ 35,000 Carvey received as a prize.



Solar system that dispenses sunlight
The new solar panel system is called AuREUS which means Aurora Renewable Energy and UV Sequestration.  To work, it uses luminescent particles from fruit and vegetable residues that absorb ultraviolet sunlight.  Subsequently, they convert that light into visible light which is transformed into energy, through a solar film.
The prototype of the solar panels designed by Carvey is a single panel of about 90 cm by 60 cm of green-tinted limestone, installed in the window of his apartment.  In his demonstration for the competition, he demonstrated that the equipment can generate enough electricity to charge two phones per day.  By placing the proposal on a large scale, solar panels would be able to fully power a building.
Furthermore, the fact that it is made of resin gives it a singular flexibility that can allow it to be used in various ways and in different contexts.  Furthermore, this versatility can help more people adopt clean, renewable energy solutions.

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