Beyond boring rooftop panels, there's now the SmartFlower that tracks the sun like a giant metal sunflower, solar tiles that look like regular roofing, and even transparent windows that generate power. Solar tech is showing up in backpacks, clothes, parking lots, and. . Like solar trackers, the Solar Flower rests on a base that enables it to maximize solar production by turning its petals (made from solar panels) toward the sun. The petals also open and close according to the amount of sunlight that is available. The Solar Flower recently installed at the Benjamin. . Solar panel experts are becoming crafty when it comes to skyward-facing surfaces, targeting building facades, car tops, and even our bodies as platforms for the suncatchers. It's part of a fascinating sector with improving panel efficiencies of up to 20% on average, as noted by MarketWatch. In disaster relief, portable solar solutions are providing crucial energy. . New advances in solar energy technologies enable an increasing number of creative applications of solar energy. This story was updated on 1/20/2023. What are solar panels? With many “creative” solar energy solutions still in the early development stages and facing their own engineering challenges, let's first. .
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