Researchers turned the enemy into an ally of electrical production. The objective is not to prevent snow, but to integrate it into the electrical generation process.
A group of researchers from the Federal Polytechnic School of Lausanne (EPFL), in collaboration with the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research, has just made a major announcement on solar energy in cold environments.
The challenge has existed as long as photovoltaic panels have existed: snow accumulation limits efficiency during winter and requires constant maintenance. But the new Swiss published in Cold Regions Science and Technology demonstrates that snow does not necessarily have to be an obstacle: it can even increase energy production.
Snowflakes reflect solar radiation to the panels through the albedo effectexpanding light capture and electrical generation, researchers noted.
At the center of the investigation is the model Helioplanta vertical structure designed by the Austrian company Ehoch2, points out . The installation, shaped like a cross with four solar surfaces, allows the snow to slide off naturally. Testing indicates that keeping panels about 0.6 meters off the ground prevents build-up on the base, while orientation in relation to prevailing air currents helps remove adhered flakes.
To evaluate snow behavior, scientists developed a simulation system called Snowbedfoam, based on OpenFOAM software, a fluid dynamics model that reproduces the movement and deposition of snow in different configurations, allowing the design of structures adapted to the alpine environment without compromising energy efficiency.
