Flexible solar panel or cell is an innovative solar technology that utilizes ultra-thin silicon wafers to capture solar energy. Unlike the traditional solar panels that are heavy and bulky, flexible solar panels are just a few micrometers in thickness. Additionally, in traditional solar panels, the frames and glass can be costlier than the PV materials. On the contrary, flexible solar cells are created by depositing the PV materials on lightweight and flexible materials such as paper, which are much cheaper than glass.
Due to their flexible nature, they can fit on irregular, curved, and other curved surfaces. This is one of the main reasons why they are often employed in off-grid applications like powering irrigation pumps as well as in portable applications like mobile charging.
Other factors that are contributing to the increased popularity of these types of solar cells include:
• Their lightweight properties make them easier to install on low-board bearing roofs. This is not possible with traditional solar panels. This means that if your house fails the roof test required for installation of solar panels or shingles due to structural issues, the best option to opt for are the ultra-thin flexible cells.
• Absence of structural additions such as ballasts, racks, and roof penetration make them easier to install, which in turn reduces labor costs
• Their flexibility also allow them to be attached to unusual places such mobile phones laptops, and cameras among others. One example that is often used to show how versatile these solar cells can be is the roof of Fisker Karma, where the solar cells are integrated to align with the curved roof of the car.
Nonetheless, like any other product out there, flexible solar panels are not without limitations. For instance, they are not suitable for bigger projects where sturdy and more reliable solar panels are required. Secondly, the efficiency of these types of solar range between 11 and 13 percent, which is considerably much less than the effectiveness of their monocrystalline and polycrystalline counterparts, which have efficiency ranges of 14 and 17 percent. Lastly, flexible solar panels are highly likely to get damaged when exposed to adverse weather elements.
Bottom-line
By and large, flexible solar cell is a versatile technology whose popularity is expected to double in the coming years. The technology is largely at the research levels currently, which means that if technological maturity is achieved along with more lucrative cost reductions, these types of solar panels will come in handy for a wide range of applications, even indoors as charts and wallpapers for producing power from room lighting.