Ulrica Wikström

The Future of Solar Energy: A New Revolution In the first quarter of this century, the cost of solar cells dropped to just a fraction of their price in the year 2000. As solar cells once accounted for the majority of solar farm costs, this reduction has propelled solar energy from a niche solution to the fastest-growing energy source globally. However, the cost of mounting systems has not followed the same downward trend, and further price reductions seem limited given current design constraints. With today’s design strategies, the cost of mounting systems has reached parity with the cost of the raw materials they use, leaving little room for cost reductions. Additionally, the design has already been optimized to withstand storms as effectively as is possible (given the non wind-adaptive approach). If the solar revolution is to be sustained in the second quarter of this century, this time transitioning away entirely from coal and natural gas, something further is needed. Wind-adaptive solutions offer a transformative path forward, promising to reduce costs, enhance durability, and unlock new possibilities for solar deployment. This includes addressing specific phenomena like torsional galloping and ensuring that all structural elements work harmoniously under varying conditions. The next chapter in solar technology is here. Vaja is leading the way.