Scientists test underwater solar panels that work 10 meters beneath the waves breakthrough perovskite tech could support self-powered marine drones

Date:
Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Description:
Scientists have developed solar panels that can operate at depths of up to 10 meters underwater.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Scientists have developed solar panels that can work up to 10 meters underwater The panels can capture up to 324 mWh of energy at that depth Each device is expected to last up to five
and a half years at a time A lot of devices are deployed underwater for research and exploration purposes, but powering them all can prove to be difficult, especially if theyre under the waves for a considerable period of time. A new scientific paper , however, has shown that solar panels can be successfully used at depths of up to 10 meters, potentially presenting a new way to keep underwater tech powered up and ready for action.

The paper was published in the Joule periodical and accompanied by a press release explaining its advances. The research was conducted by a team of scientists from Yunnan University in China, who said that a series of solar cells placed 32 feet (10 meters) below the waters surface in the South China Sea were able to collect enough energy to power up a set of lithium-ion batteries in two hours. The cells were made from lead halide perovskite with
a polymer called polyhexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride added into the
mix. This additive helped to enhance the effectiveness of the panels. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: According to Wen-Hua Zhang of Yunnan University, Very few studies have been reported on underwater solar cells, and all of them are focused on very shallow water depths of only twometers or less, a scenario far from catering for requirements of practical application. A photo of the prototype solar cells being tested in the South China Sea. (Image credit: Joule) This work presents the first functional validation of submerged solar cells practically operating at a water depth of up to about 10 meters, greatly broadening their application scope, Zhang added. The researchers stated that each cell could be deployed for around
five and a half years at a time. You may like New solar panel design could increase could increase daily PV energy production by 20% Can't have plug-in solar panels? These 12 solar gadgets will brighten your home anyway Danish startup raises funds to build underwater CCTV-like tech to track drones and more

The panels captured 1,416 milliwatt-hours (mWh) of electricity at a depth of two meters. This decreased to 752 mWh at six meters and 324 mWh at ten
meters. During separate lab testing, the solar panels had a power conversion efficiency of just under 35%. Paving the way Solar panels could one day be used to power self-sustained marine energy systems and autonomous underwater devices, researchers believe. (Image credit: datacenterdynamics) The idea behind this research is that underwater solar panels could be used to power devices such as sensors, cameras, communications systems, and more. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Many of these objects are stationary for much of the time, so nearby solar cells could help keep them topped up and working without necessarily
requiring extensive human intervention.

One question that remains unanswered is how exactly solar panels like this would interact with their environment. For example, its likely that they
would accumulate biomatter that could hinder their operation, potentially requiring regular cleaning in order to remain fully functional. After all,
the sunlight that will power these cells could also promote the growth of plants and animals a process known as biofouling.

Still, the research seems to have potential. As the authors noted, This work paves the way for the practical deployment of perovskite photovoltaics in underwater environments, offering a promising route toward self-sustained marine energy systems and autonomous underwater devices. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. The best laptops for all budgets Our top picks, based on real-world testing and comparisons

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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/home/energy-saving/scientists-test-underwater-solar- panels-that-work-10-meters-beneath-the-waves-breakthrough-perovskite-tech-coul d-support-self-powered-marine-drones


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