{
  "id": 15881991,
  "title": "Ghanaian researchers turn to AI to develop cheaper, more efficient solar panels",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/ghanaian-researchers-turn-to-ai-to-develop-cheaper-more-efficient",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-10-21T11:01:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Adom Online",
    "slug": "adom-online",
    "url": "https://www.adomonline.com/ghanaian-researchers-turn-to-ai-to-develop-cheaper-more-efficient-solar-panels/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ghanaian researchers are leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to develop cost-effective and highly efficient solar panels, potentially extending electricity access to rural areas and decreasing reliance on the national grid. The French Embassy has funded this research, which aims to utilize AI computational methods to pinpoint optimal material combinations for enhancing the performance of photovoltaic cells, which transform sunlight into electricity. Researchers are optimistic that this initiative could enable Ghana to establish its own solar technology, lower renewable energy costs, and fortify local abilities to meet escalating energy demands. Today's photovoltaic cells can achieve about 22% conversion efficiency, but researchers aspire to elevate this range to between 25-30%. Prof. Eric Tutu Tchao, head of the DIPPER Lab at the Department of Computer Engineering at the KNUST, explained that AI could drastically cut the time and resources needed to identify promising material combinations for converting light into electricity. By honing in on the most promising pairs, he is confident in enhancing solar cell performance and making them more affordable for both households and businesses. Prof. Tchao made these remarks during a workshop on generative AI for stable lead-free perovskites and high-performance organic solar cells, organized by the NKABOM project funded by the French Embassy in Ghana. Experts from various disciplines - including computer engineering, materials science, physics, computer science, and electrical engineering - gathered to tackle technical challenges. The research, set to yield results within one to two years, also explores flexible photovoltaic technologies and methods to diminish the toxicity of solar cell materials. Dr. Joseph Asare from the University of Ghana's Physics Department highlighted that rigid glass structures in current solar panels pose challenges in integrating the technology into curved surfaces, wearable devices, and innovative architectural designs. He added that flexible photovoltaic materials could permit solar technology to be integrated into clothing, umbrellas, curved buildings, and other structures without significant compromises to design. Dr. Bruno Grandidier from the Department of Physics at JUNIA-ISEN emphasized that AI could contribute to the energy transition beyond the development of more efficient solar materials, potentially optimizing electricity generation, distribution, and consumption. This could aid countries in reducing energy waste and enhancing power access. However, he cautioned that AI, especially for complex research and large-scale simulations, necessitates substantial computing power, which Ghana would need to invest in to facilitate the development and deployment of AI-based energy solutions effectively.",
  "summary": "Ghanaian researchers are exploring the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to develop more efficient and affordable solar panels, a move that could expand access to electricity in rural communities and reduce dependence on the national grid. The research, supported by the French Embassy, seeks to use AI-powered computational methods to identify suitable combinations of materials […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}