The solar panel industry isbooming, with panels popping up on rooftops and fields across the globe. But amidst thisubiquity, Merlin Solar is betting on a twist: flexible panels that can bend, adapt, and potentially revolutionize the way we harness solar energy.
Founded in 2016 by Venkatesan Murali, Merlin Solar aims to overcome the limitations of traditional, rigid solar panels. Murali, inspired by the failures of Solyndra and the rapid cost reductions driven by Chinese manufacturers, sought a solution that was both innovative and practical.
Don’t scare the heck out of people with something new, Murali told TechCrunch, emphasizing his focus on existing, proven technology. Merlin Solar chose monocrystalline silicon, a widely used and inexpensive material, but one that is notoriously fragile. Traditional panels address this fragility by sandwiching the silicon between glass panels and a metal frame, making them heavy and limitingtheir installation options.
Murali, however, saw an opportunity. Everything crystalline will eventually crack, he acknowledged. Can we make sure every electron will find its way, even if a bullet went through?
The answer lay in reimagining the way cells are connected within a panel. MerlinSolar increased the number of connections front and back, and created springy interconnects between cells, allowing them to bounce back after being bent. This innovation resulted in panels that are not only resistant to cracking but also electrically resilient.
The result? Merlin Solar’s panels are significantly lighter than traditional panels, allowingfor flexible installation on a variety of surfaces. The panels come with an adhesive backing, making them easy to attach like a sticker. Their bendy structure allows them to conform to the contours of roofs, trailers, and even trucks, opening up new possibilities for solar energy integration.
Merlin Solar’s panels also offeradvantages in terms of shading. Traditional panels suffer significant power loss when shaded, but Merlin’s web of connections allows power to route around shaded cells, maximizing energy output even in partially shaded conditions.
These advantages have made Merlin Solar’s panels a hit with recreational vehicle owners, who appreciate their lightweight and flexible nature.The company has also found success in the commercial sector, selling panels to companies like Perdue, Daimler, and Ryder for use on their trucks, reducing fuel consumption and emissions.
However, Merlin Solar’s innovative approach comes at a cost. Their panels are more expensive than traditional panels, forcing the company tofocus on niche markets and target customers who value the benefits of flexibility and adaptability.
As the solar industry continues to evolve, Merlin Solar’s flexible panels represent a promising new direction. Their ability to adapt to diverse surfaces and withstand challenging conditions could make them a key player in the future of solar energy, bringing the power of thesun to even more corners of our world.
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