We currently live in a “green conscious” era, and many nations across the world are showcasing increased awareness and concern for environmental problems and an increasing demand for sustainability. The problem is, most conventional renewable technologies are not foolproof. Thankfully, a photonic sphere could soon revolutionize the solar power industry, as early tests have revealed its significant power punch. Could this new technology become the future of renewable energy for our “green conscious” era?

We need alternatives to conventional solar power

In general, the total installed capacity of solar power has significantly increased over the past decade, especially as the technology advances and the products become more readily available. However, solar technology is not without fault. Some of the greatest challenges that are faced by conventional solar power technologies include their performance and operations.

According to Earth.org, the challenges that conventional solar power technologies face include, but are not limited to:

• Performance and operations challenges
  • Require a large installation space on roofs or land
  • Weather reliance results in power intermittency
  • Varying efficiency due to factors such as location and sunlight intensity
• Environmental challenges
  • A significant land footprint that can impact sensitive ecosystems
  • Visual pollution

That is why there has been an increase in innovative solar panel designs. One design in particular has caught the attention of many, as its results sound almost too good to be true.

The photonic sphere that can beat conventional solar power

A New York-based company called Wavja has engineered a powerful and versatile system that could revolutionize energy harnessing and power production across various industries while keeping its operation green and sustainable. Wavja’s design comprises a new renewable energy technology type called the Photon Energy System (PES).

These spheres have the potential to beat conventional solar power and others alike. According to Shereen Chen, co-founder and executive director of Wavja, the company’s first generation of PES spheres is their “proof of concept” and has produced 7.5 times more energy than solar panels of similar size. Chen adds that their third-generation spheres grew that number to 20 times. They are now testing another generation.

How it works

The spheres harness photons from various light sources, then convert them into “remarkable luminosity,” or light. The light is converted into power with “proprietary technology.” According to Wavja, the element of the technology is a silicon conductor module.

Great promises foster great expectations, but where is the proof?

This technology stands out, as these photonic spheres are not only powerful, but they also require significantly less space and are much more efficient. According to Chen:

“PES is nearly 30 times smaller and it is over 200 times more efficient.”

Additional benefits of PES

• Ability to operate for 8 hours regardless of weather conditions
• Ability to operate in more varied lighting
• Ability to harness artificial light, including LED flashlights
• Ability to operate independently of a battery
• Increased applications

Potential applications of PES

• First class comprises 3cm diameter spheres
  • Mobile equipment
• The second class comprises 6cm diameter spheres
  • Large-scale applications such as residential homes, public transportation, and smart buildings
• The third class comprises 10cm diameter spheres
  • Significantly large-scale applications such as industrial plants, commercial buildings, desalination plants, power plants, parks, restaurants, etc.

The concept and results of these photonic spheres almost sound too good to be true, which is why many do not believe that they are. Several Reddit users’ feedback has highlighted their suspicions that these “claims” made by Wavja are untrue, especially as there is no official data to support the company’s claims. Whether they are true or not, we cannot say, but one thing is certain: Should the company manage to sign industry partners and provide the required data as proof, then these spheres will revolutionize the solar industry.