In a revolutionary stride toward clean and continuous power generation, Indian researchers are developing technologies that could make solar energy available even at night. Through advanced concepts such as molten salt thermal storage and night-solar panels, scientists are attempting to solve one of renewable energy’s oldest challenges: how to produce electricity when the sun goes down.
A Breakthrough That Could Redefine Solar Power
For years, solar energy has been limited by its dependency on daylight. But new research emerging from India’s leading scientific institutions suggests that this limitation may soon disappear. These innovations promise round-the-clock renewable electricity, boosting India’s energy security while reducing its reliance on coal and fossil fuels.
Molten Salt Energy Storage: Turning Daylight into Midnight Power
At the core of this breakthrough is molten salt technology, a method already gaining traction in global concentrated solar power plants. Indian researchers are now adapting and improving the method to suit the country’s climate and industrial needs.
Here’s how it works:
Solar heat is captured during the day and stored in massive tanks of molten salts at extremely high temperatures.
These salts can retain heat for 10–15 hours, much longer than standard batteries.
After sunset, the stored heat is used to produce steam, which drives turbines and generates electricity.
Unlike regular lithium batteries, molten salt systems offer large-scale capacity, lower costs over time, and the ability to power entire towns after dark.
Night-Solar Panels: Electricity from the Cold Sky
Researchers are also exploring night-solar panels, often referred to as thermoradiative cells. Instead of capturing sunlight, these panels generate electricity by releasing heat from Earth into the cold darkness of space.
The principle is simple but powerful:
During the night, the Earth’s surface remains warm compared to the upper atmosphere.
The temperature difference creates a radiative heat flow.
Special semiconductor materials convert this flow into a small yet usable amount of electricity.
While the technology is still in early development, it holds the potential to operate nonstop—day and night.
A Game-Changer for India’s Renewable Future
India is one of the world’s fastest-growing energy markets. With electricity demand rising sharply across industries and households, 24-hour renewable power could transform the nation’s energy landscape.
These night-solar technologies could:
Provide uninterrupted green power
Reduce dependence on expensive coal imports
Improve rural electrification in remote regions
Strengthen grid stability during peak demand
Lower carbon emissions at a massive scale
With India targeting 500 GW of renewable capacity by 2030, these innovations could make the country a global leader in future energy systems.
India’s Vision: Solar Power That Never Sleeps
Nighttime solar energy is no longer science fiction—it is on the verge of becoming a scientific reality. Indian researchers believe that the next decade could see pilot plants and early commercial deployments, marking a major leap forward in sustainable energy.
If successful, this breakthrough will allow India—and potentially the world—to tap into clean power 24 hours a day, making the sun a permanent source of energy even when it’s not shining.
