Solar breakthrough – hotter panels mean better storage

EngineeringScienceSustainability
The sun reflecting off solar panels

Scientists have uncovered a surprising advantage in next-generation solar technology... the hotter it gets, the better it can store energy

Traditionally, heat has been seen as the enemy of solar power. Standard solar panels lose efficiency as temperatures rise.

But a new study, published in The Journal of Chemical Physics, shows that in special “solar-plus-storage” devices, heat can actually boost performance by speeding up the internal chemical reactions that store energy.

The team studied photoelectrochemical (PEC) flow cells – an emerging technology that combines the sunlight-harvesting ability of a solar panel with the storage power of a battery.

They discovered that as the devices warmed up, the flow of electrochemical current improved, thanks to faster ion movement and better conductivity in the electrolyte.

“Instead of fighting against the sun’s heat, our research shows we can harness it,” said lead author Dr Dowon Bae, of Loughborough University. “It flips the conventional wisdom on its head and gives us a new way to design solar storage systems that thrive in hot conditions.

“So, instead of fighting against the heat, engineers can now use it to their advantage, creating more efficient solar energy storage solutions. By understanding and harnessing this hidden effect, we can ultimately make integrated solar technology a more viable option for powering our world.”

The researchers identified a sweet spot around 45 °C, where performance gains are strongest before starting to plateau. This insight could guide the design of future solar devices that deliberately operate at warmer temperatures, cutting costs by reducing the need for cooling systems.

The real-world implications of the breakthrough could include:

  • Cheaper renewable energy – By removing the need for costly cooling infrastructure, solar-storage systems could be made more affordable
  • Better performance in hot climates – Countries with abundant sunshine and high ambient temperatures stand to benefit the most
  • Smarter system design – Engineers can now fine-tune materials and electrolytes to maximize heat-driven performance

The study is an important step toward making integrated solar capture and storage a practical reality—where a solar charging device not only generates electricity but also stores it, making renewable power more reliable and accessible.

Read the full paper: Temperature impact on thermo-electrochemical behavior of silicon-based photoelectrochemical flow cells (The Journal of Chemical Physics, August 2025).

ENDS

Notes for editors

Press release reference number: 25/134

Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme and named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2025 QS World University Rankings – the ninth year running.

Loughborough is ranked 7th in The UK Complete University Guide 2026, 10th in the Guardian University League Table 2025 and 10th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025.

Loughborough was also named University of the Year for Sport in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 - the fourth time it has been awarded the prestigious title.

Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’, and in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 over 90% of its research was rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally-excellent’. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.

The Loughborough University London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities. It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking.