Solariteit

Solariteit is a term used in energy research to describe the combined ability of a material or device to harvest, convert, and store solar energy in a single system. In this sense, Solariteit extends beyond conventional photovoltaic efficiency by incorporating the capacity to retain energy and to perform reliably under variable illumination and operating conditions. The concept is used to discuss integrated approaches that couple light absorption with electrochemical or electronic energy storage.

The term Solariteit appears in some Dutch-language discussions of solar energy research as a neologism blending the words for sun and quality or property. As a cross-disciplinary idea, it is encountered in theoretical works and early experimental reports that aim to benchmark materials not only for power output but also for energy retention, cycle life, and resilience to real-world lighting.

Measurement and interpretation of Solariteit are still not standardized. In speculative frameworks, it is conceived as a composite figure of merit that combines external quantum efficiency, spectral response, charge-storage density or voltage retention, and operational longevity. Different proposals suggest normalizing this metric to incident solar flux or to energy output over a defined time window, enabling comparisons across material classes such as semiconductors, layered composites, and hybrid devices.

Materials and devices associated with high Solariteit are typically those designed for integrated solar-to-storage functionality. These include photoelectrochemical systems with built-in storage, tandem architectures that couple light harvesting with energy buffering, and solid-state devices that blend photovoltaic and supercapacitor principles.

Status: Solariteit remains a theoretical and exploratory concept rather than a standardized, widely adopted metric. It serves as a framework for evaluating next-generation solar energy systems that aim to combine harvesting, conversion, and storage in a single platform.

See also: photovoltaics, energy storage, photoelectrochemistry, solar fuels.