Solar Panel Breakrhough

Real Solar Breakthrough Could Clean Panels With Less Water

Solar power is one of the solutions to stop climate change; by ending fossil fuel use, yet ironically, is itself constrained by climate change that is creating increasing desertification. Water is most scarce in the desert. What’s more: it’s getting worse throughout the Southwest, including California, right where insolation is best for maximum solar yield.

Over the last 30 years, average regional California average temperatures have already increased an average of nearly 3 degrees Fahrenheit: a 3 degrees rise during April- June, and 1.8 degrees during July – September. Desertification, drought, wildfires and water wars are all increasing with regional temperature rise. So the biggest barrier to (at least utility-scale) solar are local environmental reviews in desert country concerned about water use.

But a new discovery would result in solar arrays that need less washing:

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