'Snow-Phobic' Coating Reduces Snow Pile-Up on Solar Panels

A new spray-on coating, developed by a research team at the University of Michigan, shows potential to make solar panels snow-resistant. This inexpensive coating enables solar panels to generate up to 85% more energy during the winter, a time when generating capacity is reduced drastically from the cold weather.

“Snow-phobic coatings, if we can demonstrate their long-term efficacy, will make solar power more reliable and more affordable in snowy regions, helping accelerate our nation’s transition to a more solar-dominated energy economy,” said Laurie Burnham , the project’s principal investigator.