How to Improve Solar Panels’ Efficiency in Utilizing Scattered Light?

1. Optimize Panel Materials and Coatings

• Use broad-spectrum responsive materials: Traditional solar cells excel at absorbing specific light wavelengths, but scattered light has a more dispersed spectrum. Perovskite solar cells (which absorb light from visible to near-infrared ranges) or multi-junction cells (stacked with diverse semiconductors to cover more scattered light wavelengths) better capture this dispersed spectrum.
• Add anti-reflective coatings (ARCs): Applying multi-layer anti-reflective coatings to panel surfaces reduces scattered light reflection. For example, nanostructured coatings (e.g., silicon dioxide nanoparticles) use light-trapping effects to let more scattered light penetrate the cell for absorption.

2. Enhance Panel Structural Design

• Adopt textured surfaces: Creating micron-scale textures (such as pyramid patterns) on cell surfaces via etching or laser processing causes scattered light to reflect multiple times, lengthening its path inside the cell and boosting absorption rates.
• Use transparent backsheets and lightweight encapsulation: Traditional opaque backsheets block some scattered light. Replacing them with transparent backsheets (e.g., glass or clear polymers) and thinning encapsulation materials allows more scattered light to enter from the back or sides.
• Flexible and bendable designs: Flexible solar cells (e.g., thin-film cells) can conform to curved surfaces (e.g., building arches, car roofs), expanding their angle of reception for scattered light from various directions and reducing losses from fixed angles.

3. Refine Installation Angles and Layouts

• Dynamic tracking systems: Though scattered light spreads widely, dual-axis tracking systems (adjusting with the sun’s azimuth and altitude) keep panels aligned with the brightest areas of scattered light (e.g., bright sky regions on cloudy days), improving absorption.
• Tilt angle adaptation: Adjust the fixed tilt of panels based on local latitude and dominant scattered light direction. For instance, high-latitude regions with frequent cloud cover benefit from a lower tilt, making panels “flatter” to capture more low-altitude scattered light.
• Array layout optimization: When installing multiple panels, avoid overcrowding to reduce shading. Staggered or curved arrays let panels in different positions absorb scattered light from varied directions, boosting overall efficiency.

4. Integrate Light-Concentrating and Reflective Devices

• Low-magnification concentrators: Scattered light’s low intensity makes high-magnification concentration impractical, but low-magnification Fresnel lenses or reflectors can gently focus dispersed scattered light onto panels, increasing local light intensity (note: prevent overheating, which harms efficiency).
• Diffuse reflection aids: Installing white reflective materials (e.g., reflective film, aluminum plates) around panels redirects ground or environmental scattered light back to the panels, enhancing absorption.

5. Combine Intelligent Controls and Energy Storage

• Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) technology: Scattered light intensity fluctuates significantly. MPPT controllers adjust circuit parameters in real time, ensuring panels operate at their optimal power point under current lighting, minimizing energy waste.
• Integration with energy storage systems: Storing scattered light-generated electricity in batteries stabilizes output, compensating for the intermittency of scattered light power generation and indirectly improving energy utilization.