{"id":277,"date":"2016-02-01T10:43:13","date_gmt":"2016-02-01T15:43:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/utilitieslocal.com\/news\/?p=277"},"modified":"2016-02-04T13:02:20","modified_gmt":"2016-02-04T18:02:20","slug":"the-future-of-solar-power-is-balloons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/utilitieslocal.com\/news\/the-future-of-solar-power-is-balloons\/","title":{"rendered":"The future of solar power is … balloons?"},"content":{"rendered":"

While many debates about various aspects of solar energy and solar power will likely rage on for quite some time, there’s one seemingly undebatable point: cloudy days pose a problem.<\/p>\n

Solar panels are becoming a more viable clean energy source each passing week with new technologies emerging and public interest increasing, but then there are the clouds. <\/p>\n

What to do about the cloudy days?<\/p>\n

Above the clouds<\/h2>\n

Well, an answer has come forth recently in the form of another question: what if we go above the clouds? Or, more specifically, what if we utilize balloons to take cloudy weather out of the solar equation?<\/p>\n

Scientists in Japan are developing a solution by developing a way to place solar panels above the clouds. Yes, researchers at the Japanese-French Laboratory for Next Generation Photovoltaic Cells in Tokyo want to use giant solar panel balloons equipped with generators to gather solar energy.<\/p>\n

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Balloons that float above clouds could be the future of solar energy https:\/\/t.co\/goOXxQHI5n<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/k3nOi360Ka<\/a><\/p>\n

— HuffPost Science (@HuffPostScience) December 20, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n