Solimpeks Hybrid Solar Panel Raises PV Efficiency to 28 Percent

Turkish company, Solimpeks, has come up with a hybrid solar panel that addresses a significant problem contributing to lower efficiency in solar photovoltaic panels - the heat generated by collecting the sun’s energy decreases the electricity generation efficiency of the panel. For every increase of 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit, a photovoltaic panel loses about 1 percent efficiency. Additionally, excessive heat shortens the lifespan of PV panels.

To addess this issue, the Solimpeks hybrid solar panel uses water to cool the panel, and then uses the heated water as a hot water source for the facility on which the hybrid solar panel is mounted.

The Solimpeks hybrid solar panel offers the added benefit of more efficiently utilizing limited roof space. The area taken up by each hybrid solar panel is more effectively used because each panel does ‘double-duty’ as both an electricity generator and a hot water source.

Most solar panels can claim about 20 percent efficiency. The Solimpeks hybrid solar panel, however, can reach efficiency ratings of as high as 28 percent. In the PV world, this is a huge increase. Also, since the Solimpeks hybrid solar panel can also be used as a hot water source, consumers can recoup the installation costs even more quickly than with conventional PV panels.