Origami-Inspired Photovoltaic Modules—Development of Ecofriendly Solutions for Naval and Mining Operations

In recent years, ecofriendly and renewable energy solutions have gained relevance mainly to lessen the effects of climate change. Governments and companies across the world have commitments to reduce fuel consumption and emissions as part of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Solar energy systems have great importance as a renewable energy source; however, they often have large space requirements to be effective, e.g., large areas covered by solar panels, as well as low efficiency and strong dependance on the weather. On the other hand, origami, the art of folding paper, can be a source of inspiration for new technologies and solutions for modern problems. In this paper, origami-inspired solar panels are presented as a potential solution for naval and mining operations. Prototype panels are manufactured based on the Miura-Ori pattern. Using this pattern, the photovoltaic modules can be folded by just one movement, thus reducing their footprint by up to 90%. The prototype photovoltaic modules are then tested on land and on board a vessel, where their efficiency and resistance can be tested. It is shown that naval and mining operations, where fuel consumption can be extremely high and available space is a major constraint, benefit greatly from this kind of development.