Could Solar Panels Be the Next Big Clue in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence?

The detectability of silicon-based solar panels as technosignatures on exoplanets that resemble Earth is examined in this study. It is possible for future telescopes like the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) to detect the unique ultraviolet-to-visible reflectance characteristics of silicon photovoltaics. Based on the baseline energy consumption of Earth in 2022, we calculate that around 2.4% of the planet's land could be covered to meet global energy demands.