China has done it again! The country continues to lead in the solar energy sector and its latest technology unveiling proves why it’s at the top of its game. A new system designed for deployment in the sky overcomes many of the shortcomings of traditional solar power installations and it’s an exciting time.
Photovoltaics in its modern form has come a long way in the 70 years since the technology started being developed in the 1950s and it’s clear that the Chinese intend to remain the leaders in renewable solar power.
China has revealed a PV solar innovation like no other
Chinese researchers have a photovoltaic solution to emergency power needs that operates at low altitudes in the air rather than being installed on land. One of the most significant features is the system’s portability, as it can be packed up and moved at will to generate power whenever it’s needed.
The interesting item of equipment is a balloon, a novel structure far removed from the traditional panel arrays we’re used to. The customized, portable, inflatable balloon is made from thin-film cadmium telluride solar cells that deliver an energy efficiency rate of 19%. The device also incorporates an exhaust valve, modules for storage and control, fixture ropes, and a cord reel. The balloon is made up of an upper hemisphere and a lower arc surface, each with a separate function.
The BIPVS is ideal in emergency and disaster conditions
The Chinese research team refers to their technology as a portable balloon-integrated photovoltaic system (BIPVS) and emphasizes that it can be deployed at low altitudes to generate power from some distance above the ground.
The research’s corresponding author, Tingsheng Zhang, explained to pv magazine:
“The genesis of our research was a groundbreaking idea about low-altitude PV deployment proposed by Professor Jinyue Yan from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, who envisioned the integration of photovoltaic technology with kites. However, after considering the environmental constraints, particularly the limitations imposed by wind conditions, we engaged in a series of feasibility discussions, which led us to pivot towards the concept of a photovoltaic balloon system.”
This is not the first endeavor to use balloons to harvest solar power, as a different team of Chinese researchers is working on a similar project in collaboration with a Swedish team.
What are the benefits of the solar balloon technology?
The developers had disaster scenarios in mind when working on the BIPVS tech. During post-disaster reconstruction efforts, emergency power demands can be satisfied by deploying the balloon from anywhere on land and it will work as long as there’s sunlight available. This is a positive in terms of application in remote areas.
One of the shortcomings of other solar power systems is shading, which happens when objects get in the way of sunlight. The BIPVS bypasses shading by being deployed into the air above objects that may obstruct the device’s ability to capture as much of the solar energy available as possible.
In addition to being transportable, the BIPVS balloon can be stored during times when solar radiation is low, which minimizes the risk of damage and reduces the maintenance that would be required if the device remained constantly deployed in the air. Tingsheng Zhang added:
“Our solution involves filling the balloon with a mixture of helium and air, ensuring that the system can be deployed at low altitudes. The design allows for easy assembly and disassembly through the inflation and deflation of the balloon, which is particularly advantageous for regions with harsh winters and frequent snow and ice at mid to high latitudes. The portability of our system also makes it an ideal solution for remote areas.”
How does the balloon’s solar technology work?
The upper hemisphere of the BIPVS is made from transparent material that captures solar radiation from all directions. It works with light-concentrating abilities based on refraction properties. The lower arc surface is designed to reduce the thin-film solar cell installation area without reducing effective light harvesting.
The solar cells are positioned beneath the balloon to protect the cells from dust, snow, and hail. The purpose of the exhaust valve is to discharge active or passive gases, which are what propels the balloon. The valve has a secondary function of reducing high pressure due to exposure to the sun inside the balloon.
Control and storage modules are incorporated to manage power conversion and storage. The system features four cables that stabilize its center of gravity with a fixed rope attaching it to the control and storage module and the cord reel, which remain on the ground.
What output capacity can we expect?
The group disclosed the following generation capacities after extensive testing in a range of locations and conditions:
“Upon excluding unsuitable months, the case analysis shows that the average monthly power generation of the BIPVSs during the effective working months of a year is as follows: 3.921 GWh, 4.238 GWh, 4.275 GWh, 3.337 GWh, and 3.379 GWh, respectively.”
It’s clear that China intends to maintain its position as the world leader in renewable solar power technology. Thanks to efforts by its government, such as subsidizing various projects like solar panels that can harvest energy produced by rain, it’s expected that more innovations will follow.
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