Merlin Solar Bets Twisted Panels Will Help It Land On Rooftops Everywhere Globally

Solar panels have become a ubiquitous sight, adorning rooftops and fields across the globe. With their increasing presence, it’s easy to assume that there isn’t room for improvement. However, Venkatesan Murali, founder and CTO of Merlin Solar, is on a mission to prove this notion wrong.

Table of Contents

A New Angle on Solar

Murali has been working towards revolutionizing the solar industry for nearly a decade. He founded Merlin Solar in 2016, amidst the tumultuous market conditions following Solyndra’s collapse in 2011 and the subsequent cost-cutting measures taken by Chinese manufacturers. Murali remained resolute, choosing to focus on an existing and widely used technology – monocrystalline silicon.

From Fragile to Flexible

Solar cells made with monocrystalline silicon are inexpensive but fragile. To mitigate this fragility, companies typically sandwich the silicon between two panels of glass bordered by a metal frame. This design makes the panels heavy, limiting their installation options. Murali aimed to create flexible solar panels using monocrystalline silicon, but faced the challenge of ensuring that the cells remained connected and functional even when bent or damaged.

Innovative Solution

To overcome this hurdle, Merlin Solar changed the way cells are connected within a panel. The company increased the number of connections on both the front and back sides of the panel, as well as between cells. By making these interconnects springy, they allowed them to bounce back after being bent. This innovative design resulted in panels that were not only resistant to cracking but also electrically resilient to damage.

Merlin’s Panels: A Game-Changer

The flexible nature of Merlin’s solar panels has opened up new possibilities for installation and application. The panels come with an adhesive on the pack, enabling them to be attached to surfaces like stickers. This flexibility allows them to conform to different shapes and sizes, making them ideal for use on recreational vehicles, trucks, and even building rooftops.

Coping with Partial Shading

One of the significant advantages of Merlin’s panels is their ability to handle partial shading better than traditional solar panels. When a cell is shaded, power production drops off dramatically in conventional panels. However, Merlin’s web of connections allows more power to route around the shaded cell, ensuring continued energy output.

Market and Business Strategy

Merlin Solar’s unique products have attracted attention from various industries, including transportation and construction. The company has adopted a strategic approach, focusing on providing high-quality, flexible solar panels that cater to specific market needs. By doing so, they aim to establish themselves as a leader in the solar industry.

Industry Impact

Merlin Solar’s innovative approach is poised to disrupt the solar industry, offering customers improved performance, durability, and installation options. As the world continues its transition towards renewable energy sources, companies like Merlin Solar are crucial in driving progress and innovation.

Conclusion

Venkatesan Murali and his team at Merlin Solar have demonstrated that even with existing technologies, there is still room for significant improvement. Their innovative approach to solar panels has paved the way for flexible, durable, and high-performance energy solutions. As the industry continues to evolve, it will be exciting to see how companies like Merlin Solar shape the future of renewable energy.

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