The advent of practical electric and hybrid vehicles points toward a future in which humanity is less reliant of fossil fuels for power. Solar panels have presented an alternative to traditional electricity generation, but concerns about cost and efficiency damaged their commercial prospects, and solar power generation remains a relative anomaly despite industry growth. Advancements in panel technology brought the price of solar power down to more reasonable levels in recent years, and this could spur widespread use of the panels on people's homes. As the technology advances, magnetic tools could play a crucial role in maintaining solar panel efficiency.

Solar takes off
The solar panel industry underwent explosive growth during the last several years, and the development is largely due to decreased cost. GreenTech Media reported that about 66 percent of the U.S.'s solar energy capacity was installed within the last three years. That astonishingly rapid growth was most visible in California, which the Solar Energies Industries Association said has the largest number of solar projects in the nation.

That's partially because of Californian government initiatives that encourage solar development, but also related to the state's climate. Solar panels work best in areas that receive consistent sunlight throughout the year, which makes it a poor match for some northern areas that regularly experience inclement weather and cloudy days. Solar panel's relatively low efficiency compounds this problem, and has limited their use to sunny climes.

Issues with efficiency
According to TechRepublic, solar panels generally operate at 18 percent efficiency. That means that 18 percent of the solar energy they collect is converted into electrical energy that consumers can use. This efficiency is poor when compared to other energy-generators, such as coal, which means that it costs more to generate a set amount of energy with solar than through other methods. This efficiency gap, in concert with the variable amount of sunlight in different locales makes it difficult for solar to gain traction outside the sunniest areas.

The baseline efficiency of solar panels is rapidly increasing, and California University at Berkley researchers claim to have developed panels that get 25 percent efficiency, but problems remain. Traditionally, solar panels became less efficient over time as dust and grime covers their sensors and lets in less light. While this can be corrected with regular washing, that process is costly, time-consuming and wastes large amounts of water. Now, a group of researchers developed an efficient cleaning method that uses magnets to keep panels operating at maximum efficiency.

Magnets remove dirt
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals discovered dirt can be pulled off solar panels with ferrofluid, an oil that caries tiny magnetic particles, The Christian Science Monitor reported. The fluid sits over the solar panel's light gathering cells, and remains inactive until it is exposed to a magnetic field. When magnetic energy is applied, it lifts the fluid off the solar panel surface, and simultaneously pulls away any dust that has collected on the cells. This high-tech process could dramatically cut the difficult and cost associated with solar panel maintenance.

A bright future
The massive increases in solar panel adoption experienced during the last three years are likely to continue for some time. Advancements in panel technology will make these systems more efficient and allow installation in areas that receive less consistent sunlight. These changes will drop the cost of solar energy to a range more consistent with other types of power.

While solar is unlikely to supplant fossil fuels entirely, it can act as a supplemental power source for an increasingly large number of people. These individuals and businesses will benefit from developments made possible by magnets.