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This is nothing new, bifacial solar panels are on the market for well over a year now...
e.g. https://www.pv-magazine.com/2020/06/08/jolywood-unveils-black-bifacial-module/
Cheap and readily available...
Read past the (admittedly misleading) headline. This article is about double-sided perovskite solar panels, which is apparently just a better material, and maybe it benefits more from the double-sided structure? Not sure of the specifics, but they're saying efficiency can reach 30%, which is a lot higher than your example.
TLDR; the front side is 23% efficient, and the rear side 20% efficient.
They don't actually give an overall efficiency but it implies a total of 43%. They compare this to typical panels also at 23% efficient, so it's really remarkable if true. Other emerging solar tech is up to about 32% but if that could also benefit from multiple layers then total efficiency could become insane.
Seems a little too good to be true, really, but great if so.
Edit: Yeah, I don't think these efficiencies can be added like that. I guess the overall efficiency will depend on how reflective the ground under the panels is, and they will extract 20% of that. Maybe that's why they don't give an overall rating.
I don’t think you can just add up efficiency percentages like that…
Just need another sun on the opposite side
Sure you can. That's why a UV lamp shining at the six 20% solar panels that power it can run your FTL drive.
I think you're right there. My bad.
They say the second layer retains 93% of the performance of the first using reflected light, making it 20% efficient, so, yes they are added in that case.
You double(ish) the surface area. So 23% efficient front panel + 20% rear panel.
I have also invented double-sided paper which holds vastly more information.
I can wipe with both sides now?
Yes, just remember to wash your hands 93% more.
I'm pretty positive this has been a thing for a while? Though I have no proof.
Wow, that's great for planets in twin star systems.
It’s interesting that we usually assume the scattered light that has been reflected has much less energy left. Glad to see more movement in renewable energy production.
What i got from the article is a panel can get 20% more energy this way. So a 500 watt panel could harvest 600 watts. 500 from the front and 100 fromthe back.
Doesn't it say that the front is 23% efficient, while the back is 20% efficient? So it harvests 90% of the power of the front side.
That makes them harvest almost double the energy, no?
But the back side of the panel gets much less light because it is getting it indirectly. If there were a sun hitting both sides then you would be correct
Well cost is the main consideration. I mean most would consider cost per kW primarily. Efficiency only counts for something when it's a factor in cost. It's good when solar panels can be smaller, but in utility installations space is usually not a limitation.