Imperial researchers have contributed to a publication about the potential of solar technologies for sustainable energy.

The new paper is titled 'Roadmap on established and emerging photovoltaics for sustainable energy conversion.' Published by the Institute of Physics, it highlights the growing potential of photovoltaic technologies to support sustainable energy and the UK's goal of net zero by 2050.

Developing the future of solar technology

In 2020, the Henry Royce Institute brought together the UK photovoltaics community to discuss the critical challenges that must be addressed to accelerate the widespread adoption of solar technology. 

Photovoltaics is a technology that uses solar panels to convert sunlight directly into electricity. They are a central pillar in the world’s transition to net zero, supporting the reduction of human-made greenhouse gas emissions and providing more low-carbon electricity to meet increased energy needs in the future. Photovoltaics are already the most affordable source of electricity in many regions around the world.

However, to meet global net-zero carbon emissions targets, the total capacity of photovoltaics needs to grow tenfold worldwide, from 0.9 trillion watts in 2021 to 8.5 trillion watts by 2050, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency.

The new paper shares the following recommendations for future research and development in photovoltaic technologies:

• Recognising the vital role of large-scale solar power in reaching carbon-neutral targets and the opportunity for the UK to engage in a growing solar supply chain.
• A proposal for more investment in solar photovoltaics and manufacturing, including increasing and improving manufacturing facilities, and research to improve the performance of new and established photovoltaic technologies.
• A greater understanding of how the use of photovoltaic technologies can impact beyond the generation of solar energy, influencing new findings in green hydrogen, low-loss electronics and more.
• Realising how emerging photovoltaic technologies can offer enormous potential to address some of the wider challenges facing society. This includes allowing infrastructure and agriculture to become more sustainable and more resource-efficient by using indoor and building-integrated solar panels, as well as placing solar panels on farmland. Furthermore, photovoltaics could lower the cost of space missions by replacing current semiconductors.
• Recognising the importance of developing international standards for emerging photovoltaic technologies to certify performance and stability support their sustained development and ensure faster commercialisation and deployment.
• The introduction of efforts and legislation to improve the life cycle of photovoltaics, including 'material circularity' to help reduce the environmental impacts associated with mining and manufacturing processes, as well as the cost. This aims to move away from the current cheapest option, which is to put photovoltaic technologies in landfill.
• Targeted collaboration and data-sharing between researchers in academia and industry, in addition to increased collaboration between groups working on different technologies.
• Greater investment in training and highly transferable skills development to support new manufacturing and instrumentation, development and deployment, and an understanding of the structure, behaviour and performance in the photovoltaics technology field.
• Consideration of the 'photovoltaics ecosystem', including the materials used and supply chains for important materials and the security of supply chains.
• A focus on developing policy and legislation to support new photovoltaic technologies.
  
  

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  Read the full paper: Roadmap on established and emerging photovoltaics and sustainable energy conversion. 
  
  Listen to 'How to boost the sustainability of solar cells', a new podcast episode by Physics World. In this podcast, researchers share more about the new roadmap and their latest research in solar energy.