ANOTHER GREAT IDEA SOLAR FENCING.

Gone are the days when solar panels were just a rooftop luxury. In a fascinating turn of events, Europeans are now outfitting their garden fences with solar panels, capitalizing on their plummeting costs. This trend isn’t just a quirky home improvement hack; it’s a significant marker of how renewable energy is becoming more accessible than ever. The heart of this solar revolution beats in the overproduction of solar panels, primarily in China. This surge has pushed production costs down to just over 100 euros per kW, making solar energy an incredibly attractive option for many. According to the Financial Times, the global production of solar panels is set to reach 1,100 gigawatts—three times the demand forecasted by the International Energy Agency. “Why build a fence out of anything else when you can use solar panels, even if they’re not perfectly aligned with the sun?” remarks Martin Brough, head of climate research at BNP Paribas Exane, in a conversation with FT. While it’s true that solar panels capture less sunlight when positioned vertically, like on a fence, than when they are inclined on a roof, the installation costs are lower, and their efficiency increases in winter, when the sun is lower in the northern hemisphere sky. Other large overlooked areas are garage doors, shutters and drive ways. Solar roadways prove that the weight of a family car can easily be carried by heavy duty solar panels. The glazing industry are now progressing with solar windows and hopefully the prices will come down for residential use.