Towards a More Environmentally Conscious World: G&H Technology that Enables Green Applications

Solar panel production

In the production cycle of solar panel cells, acousto-optic modulators (AOMs) are used for multiple purposes, starting with cutting and patterning via laser applications, offering more precise shapes that fit given specifications. In that regard, lasers play a crucial role in maximizing the available space of solar panels, and consequently, in increasing the amount of energy these pieces can process. One technique that is regarded as one of the most environmentally friendly compared to alternatives in the field creates special laser-induced grooves around the edges of the panels. Their purpose is to hermetically seal the edges and prevent any potential power loss, making the panels more energy efficient. Other laser-based applications include drilling wafers to put together solar modules, which is used for tracking the supply chain and solar cell ablation. All applications require precisely tuned lasers, that need to incorporate high-quality acousto-optic modulators.

Metal sintering and 3D printing

An emerging market, metal sintering is the process of fusing metal powders under pressure to create solid objects. Today, this process is more commonly seen in the automotive industry, in aerospace and defence, as well as in medical device manufacturing, among other fields. The environmental aspect about this process is that, through high-precision lasers, the waste from the used raw materials can be recycled and put back into the production cycle. Compared to the historical processing method of taking big chunks of metal and using a mill to cut out all the unwanted pieces, current day practices in metal sintering include using a 3D printer which works with metal powder. More specifically, the melting process uses a laser to carve out the sections that give way to the final, desired outcome. Any powder residue can be reused, creating a more sustainable business line. Again, to work under such highly defined conditions, the accuracy and performance of the lasers needs to be state-of-the-art, something that G&H AOMs are widely known for.

Wildfire detection

Lidar applications help detect wildfires in an easier and faster manner, making them a great resource in environmental management. These applications measure wind speed, turbulence, water vapor, and temperature, among other properties. Lidars use lasers that emit light pulses into the atmosphere - light out of which a small fraction is detected by a receiver.The working principle behind these detection solutions lies in a byproduct of acousto-optics, through which one gets a frequency shift when the light goes through the device - a frequency shift that ends up being translated into useful monitoring data.As such, acousto-optic modulators play a significant role in the data transfer part of the control cycle, helping the detection of forest fires in their early stages. According to a 2023 research paper from the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Cagliari, “These technologies have significantly improved the speed and accuracy of fire detection and monitoring, allowing for prompt response and effective resource allocation”[1], making lidar performance a crucial environmental topic.

G&H fosters a deep appreciation for the environment, from strategy to product. Our dedication toward sustainability is captured by our various actions that promote a wholistic understanding and addressing of our environmental impact. We are confident that, by each doing our part in supporting the green movement, we will be able to achieve G&H’s vision of making the world better – in our case, with photonics.

[1] Carta, F., Zidda, C., Putzu, M., Loru, D., Anedda, M., & Giusto, D. (2023). Advancements in Forest Fire Prevention: A Comprehensive survey. Sensors, 23(14), 6635. https://doi.org/10.3390/s23146635.