Honeycomb design inspired by bees increases solar panel power output
Engineers have developed a three-dimensional concave structure to redirect reflected sunlight back towards solar surfaces for better absorption.
Engineers have developed a concave, three-dimensional solar panel design inspired by the honeycomb structure of beehives, according to a report by The Pulse cited by the Times of India.
The design addresses the issue of sunlight reflecting away from conventional flat panels when the sun strikes at an oblique angle.
Traditional flat panels lose electricity-generating potential when light bounces off the protective glass, whereas this new geometry uses sloping surfaces to redirect reflected light towards another surface for absorption.
The honeycomb-inspired structure increased maximum power output by 142.3 per cent compared with a flat panel under the same conditions.
At a zero-degree angle, the output increased by 36.4 per cent, while the improvement reached 61.8 per cent at a 60-degree angle.
To support the arrangement, engineers developed a flexible, printed polymer mechanical metamaterial. This flexible backing could allow the modules to be used on curved walls, electric vehicles, and aerospace equipment.