EtaVolt
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A spin-off from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) called EtaVolt has developed a nifty device that can rejuvenate and extend the life of old (and new) photovoltaic (PV) panels. The technology has been extensively field-tested and can be used on around 90% of all existing PV panels available worldwide. The technology has been successfully commercialized and is ready to scale up for widespread market exposure.
EtaVolt’s technology is a game-changer in the solar industry, especially in tropical regions like Singapore, where panels degrade quickly due to harsh environmental conditions.
Due to harsh environmental conditions, solar panels lose their efficiency soon after installation, especially during the first year. This drop in performance can be up to 10% or more over the panels' lifespan. This, EtaVolt explains, translates to an estimated energy loss of US$2 billion globally, based on the global 1-terawatt solar power capacity.
The common way of maintaining solar panels is by cleaning the top glass layer or replacing the entire module. Unfortunately, no inexpensive solutions currently available in the market can effortlessly restore a solar panel's efficiency on-site. Advanced Regeneration Technology by EtaVolt works for over 90% of silicon solar cells in the market, including those containing boron, oxygen, defects, and impurities.
“We have known for a long time that while harvesting sunlight gives us an almost inexhaustible source of energy, producing solar panels requires a lot of energy and generates a high carbon footprint. While this carbon emission can be offset by the theoretical long service life of the solar panels, estimated at 25 years, the reality is that solar panels in tropical countries face harsher conditions and there has been no real solution to restore and recycle the silicon cells – the core technology of solar panels,” says Prof Madhavi, who is also the Executive Director of NTU’s Sustainability Office.
"Our solar rejuvenation method has not only been rigorously tested and validated but has shown field-proven results in various commercial applications. The technology has been successfully implemented in projects with major partners in the solar industry, such as renewable energy solutions firm Vector Green, demonstrating its effectiveness and potential for widespread adoption,” explained Dr Wang, Co-founder of EtaVolt Dr Stanley Wang, who is also a Project Manager at ERI@N.
But how does it work? As EtaVolt explains, when precise temperature and intense light are applied to solar cells, they excite material molecules, causing them to move quickly, changing their arrangement and repairing light and heat damage. The process of repairing solar panels prevents energy leakage by patching holes in a bucket-like fashion, ensuring optimal light energy collection.
The new device can automatically move over solar panels up to 7.5 feet (2.3 meters) long, helping to treat them and recover up to 5% of their lost field performance. The process takes less than five minutes. Up to five years of protection can be provided, depending on the type of solar panel. It can also be used indoors or for outdoor solar farms.
EtaVolt was established in 2019 by Dr. Wang and Dr. Andy So. The company was incubated by EcoLabs Centre of Innovation for Energy, which is a national platform hosted by ERI@N. The platform aims to accelerate deep-tech energy innovation capabilities in Singapore to support the nation's future energy transition.
EtaVolt provides solar panel rejuvenation and smart recycling services for solar panels. Through full automation, they dismantle waste solar panels and recover useful materials and resources, such as silicon, which can be reused for other purposes.
