German Made, British Designed Solar Panels are 50% cheaper and 50% more efficient

British Firm Oxford PV , a startup spun out of the University of Oxford, is working on a commercial version of the next generation of solar panels. Rather than being purely silicon-based like today's options they include a material referred to as a miracle mineral called Perovskite.

Perskovite is one of the most common materials on the planet, meaning it's fairly cheap but it makes the cells significantly more efficient. Beyond that it also enables other types of solar cells to be created including double sided options that will generate power without needing to pivot to follow the sun. Incredibly, perskovite is also able to self heal, meaning that solar cells maintain their efficiency for tens or even hundreds of years.

Oxford PV hope to being commercial roll out later this year and there are competitors in China racing to bring their products to the market ASAP too. Cheaper more efficient solar panels suddenly mean it's a relevant option for many more households around the world. That can only be a good thing for all of us and the wider environment.

Modern flats with solar panels