Why underwater solar panels work better than those exposed to the air

The efficiency of solar panels has been significantly increasing for years, but new solutions are being sought to avoid the land consumption and reduce waste from outdoor systems equipped with this technology. A significant step forward comes from an all-Italian project that aims to harness solar energy on the seabed, bringing clean electricity precisely where it is most difficult to produce and where human activities are constantly expanding. The initial results are
definitely encouraging.

First of all, research has shown that new-generation perovskite solar panels work well even underwater. This is a family of materials derived from calcium titanate, which have shown extraordinary efficiency in converting thesolar power in electricity, surpassing the performance of silicon solar panels. 

Returning to the project's results, which open up the possibility of exploiting underwater space to increase energy production from renewable sources, particularly solar, the study demonstrates that even below 50 meters, blue-green light can penetrate effectively, and perovskite cells are capable of exploiting it. Not only that: when immersed in the first few centimeters of seawater, these panels produce even more energy than when exposed to air.

The project and its related tests, entirely Italian, are called "Beneath the Surface: New Perspectives for Solar Energy in the Underwater World” and is the result of the collaboration of three entities: the CNR (through the Institute of the Structure of Matter in Rome and the Institute for Chemical-Physical Processes in Messina), the Tor Vergata University of Rome and the company BeDimensional, which works with two-dimensional materials. 

Apart from the improved efficiency, when immersed in the first few centimetres under water, the project has also demonstrated good resistance of the panels: after 10 days When immersed in salt water, the cells had minimal lead release, below the limits established for drinking water, thanks to an encapsulation made with a hydrophobic polymer adhesive.

The discovery made by the team of Italian researchers was published in the journal Energy & Environmental Materials, and could pave the way for a new frontier in the use of solar panels and in the construction of systems for this renewable energy source. As research progresses, it remains to be seen whether the panels will be able to withstand prolonged exposure to water; how deep can sunlight be captured; how to deal with potential marine interference (such as waves and currents) that could damage the panels; whether the long-term release of lead could create environmental problems; and finally, what the real costs of such a system are.

But if these steps are overcome, thanks to research and technological innovation, then solar energy, with its panels, will enter a new era. 

The project is a candidate for the 2025 Non Sprecare Award, in the "Institutions" section. To submit your projects, follow the instructions provided. here.

Cover image source: CNR/National Research Council

The initiatives competing for the 2025 Non-Waste Award:

• Promix: The company that recycles tires to make synthetic grass fields.
• Packtin: Circular flour production from agricultural waste
• Vitorchiano: the Lazio municipality where door-to-door collection is digital