While silicon forms the basis of many solar panels, some solar modules of the future may not get their base materials from the ground, but from hairdressing salons and barber shops.
An 18 year old Nepalese student has demonstrated new type of solar panel using human hair, which turns out to be easy to use as a conductor in solar panels according to inventor Milan Karki.
Milan’s solar panel produces18 W of electricity and if mass-produced, Milan says they could be sold for a quarter of the price of those already on the market.
So what gives hair its magical solar properties? Melanin, a pigment that gives hair its colour, is light sensitive and also acts as a type of conductor.
Milan was inspired after reading a book by physicist Stephen Hawking, which discussed ways of creating static energy from hair.
While hair degrades far more quickly than silicon, according to the young inventor, people can replace the hair easily themselves and it’s a material they can grow themselves.
Milan’s invention isn’t a novelty, but may be a real energy solution for developing countries. In countries such as Nepal, electricity is a luxury and the supply very unreliable. Even in areas connected to the fragile Nepalese power grid, users face blackouts of up to 16 hours a day.
Milan’s discovery may also act as a springboard for researchers to develop long-life materials based on melanin.
With youngsters like Milan Karki pushing the boundaries of renewable energy technology and tackling challenges from fresh angles, perhaps the energy future of the world isn’t so grim after all.
Read more about the solar panel made from hair here.
