A new generation of solar panels to reduce fossil fuel consumption
Solar energy has huge potential to reduce our reliance on polluting fossil fuels and support sustainable global development. For rural communities even access to a small amount of electricity could lead to life-saving improvements in agricultural productivity, health, education, communications and access to clean water. However solar panel systems can be expensive, inefficient and short-lived, restricting their wider application and hampering progress needed to deliver development goals.
This UK-China research and development project has paved the way for a new generation of efficient, low cost, solar panel systems that make effective use of solar energy for heating, hot water and electricity.
The team behind the project has made several technological breakthroughs such as a 55 percent higher heat transport capacity, 20 percent higher solar efficiency than in similar systems, improved quality, and a better control system.
These solar panels have been installed in 150 rural houses in China as well as a number of thriving businesses. Over 1,000 students in the UK and China have been taught how to use the technology and their new product will be included in International Energy Agency guides which make it much more likely to influence new design, practice and policy making. The project team has since secured £2 million to develop a low carbon heating system for UK public buildings and the next exciting phase for the team will be the development of commercial systems to take the product to market.
The system can maintain a very comfortable and habitable indoor environment. My chimney no longer emits black smoke and the in-house flowers bloom brightly throughout the winter.
Mr Niu of Guihua Village, Lishi City, Shanxi Province, China
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Caption: UK-CHINA Research and Innovation Partnership Fund world class research and innovation partnership
Newton Prize (logo)
Newton Fund (logo)
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Caption: A high performance solar heat and power system employing the innovative photovoltaic/thermal technology
Professor Xudong Zhao, University of Hull and Professor Jie Ji, University of Science and Technology of China
Professor Jie Ji, University of Science and Technology of China
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A solar panel is displayed in the exhibition hall.
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Speaker (Prof Jie Ji): this project is about developing a building integrate-able solar PV/T system.
In a larger sense, it is about global energy conservation.
Solar energy can greatly reduce the use of fossil fuel consumption and can be used to enable a building integrate-able solar PV/T system for heating, hot water and power supply.
Our major outcomes are as follows:
Firstly, we have some technological breakthroughs,
For example, reliability is the biggest issue of a solar PV/T system
Mostly because of thermal stress
Our technological innovation have resolved this issue, making the system more reliable.
Secondly, the PV/T system can greatly improve solar energy use.
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In a solar panel exhibition hall, Professor Jie Ji is speaking in front of the camera.
Caption: Professor Jie Ji, University of Science and Technology of China
Many solar panels are rotating on the roof.
The top of the solar panel is rotating with the red logo of solar energy in the back.
Solar panel are absorbing sunlight on the roof.
In a solar panel exhibition hall, Professor Jie Ji is speaking in front of the camera.
Workers are welding parts in the workshop;
Metal tubes come out of processing machine
Two workers carry the metal rack onto processing desk;
A worker turns on the switch to press the metal sheet;
The automated welding machine is welding solar panels;
Machines are functioning to produce devices;
In the solar panel exhibition hall, Professor Jie Ji is speaking in front of the camera.
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Thirdly, our project have industry support and have several production lines.
Fourthly, we have done some preliminary application and promotion of this technology.
Some demonstration sites are set up in Guangdong, Anhui, Shanxi, etc.
Newton Fund has offered us a new channel for international collaboration,
Enabling us to apply technologies like solar energy application in both UK and China.
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Robotic arms are moving panels in the workshop;
A worker is working in front of the machine.
Workers are welding the solar panels;
Many parts are moving on the conveyer
Workers are inspecting the solar panels carried by robotic arms;
Workers are carefully inspecting;
Many solar panels are moving along with the conveyer;
A solar panel slide onto a shelf;
On the production line, the solar panels are packed automatically;
In a solar panel exhibition hall, Professor Jie Ji is speaking in front of the camera.
Workers are beating the parts on a functioning machine;
Wrapped solar panels move on the conveyer;
The robotic arms are stacking wrapped solar panels;
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As a researcher, I believe we should apply our research into social development,
Making renewable energy, especially solar energy a bigger part of energy structure,
Making the sky bluer and the water clearer.
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In a solar panel exhibition hall, Professor Jie Ji is speaking in front of the camera.
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The Newton Fund is devoted to achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
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Global Goals for Sustainable Development Logos of the Global Goals for Sustainable Development
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Presented by
Logo of UK Science & Innovation Network
Logo of Newton Fund
Logo of British Embassy Beijing
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Executive Producer
Zhan Zhang
Directed，Filmed，Edited by Manman Yang
Second Cameraman
Wei Wang
Produced by Believing is Seeing Studio Guangzhou
A high-performance solar heat and power system employing the innovative photovoltaic/thermal technology
Project leads: Professor Xudong Zhao, University of Hull, UK and Professor Jie Ji, University of Science and Technology of China
Delivery partners: Innovate UK and Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, part of UK Research and Innovation and the Ministry of Science and Technology, China
