Photovoltaic self-consumption is a trend that we are developing at stratospheric levels (although still insufficient) in America. States such as California or Texas have shot up their installations, although many people do not have the space for it. Is it your case? If so, you are going to have almost free electricity with the first ever invisible solar panel that is going to replace your windows.
Goodbye to solar panels as we know them: the futuristic invention coming to U.S.
Transparent solar panels or solar windows are a fascinating product for the future as they make windows serve as solar energy generators. Similar to ordinary windows, these transparent panels can be installed on buildings without significantly changing their appearance yet gather solar energy.
The major improvement is incorporation of transparent organic solar cells that are cast onto glass substrates. These organic photovoltaic cells convert light in the near-infrared and ultraviolet portion of the spectrum to electrical energy while being transparent to visible light.
Some of the unique advantages include a more sophisticated design with minimal intrusions on the aesthetic value of a house or city landscape windows and the potential to transform virtually any glass surface into a solar power plant.
How can you replace your windows with these solar panels? This way you will have free electricity
Transparent solar panels can be described as one of the new technologies that are specifically designed to provide windows with the ability to capture energy from sunlight and yet be transparent at the same time. The heart of the technology is found in the form of the transparent solar cells-
These solar cells are made using organic photovoltaic materials that are specifically developed to make them transparent yet very effective in the conversion of light into energy. It is made up of specially constructed very thin transparent polymers and other complex materials capable of absorbing/light utilizing light.
Organic photovoltaic material is placed between two glass or plastic sheets to form a transparent and weather resistant solar module. The solar cells themselves are nearly imperceptible at a glance and permit more than 60% of visible light to pass through.
The futuristic solar panel that will replace your windows: it´s coming from Silicon Valley
Ubiquitous Energy is a Silicon Valley based startup that has developed a solar panel which is transparent and marketable as a window. Their product titled ClearView Power plans to make windows double up as solar panels without making any significant impact on its appearance or visibility.
ClearView Power utilizes thin layers of solar cells sandwiched between glass panes to only capture and convert invisible light by means of converting ultraviolet and infrared light into electricity, while illumination is allowed to pass through.
This technology first originated at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, beginning in 2011. Ubiquitous Energy was launched in 2012 with the goal of turning the discovery into a product line. It took several years for the company to develop a prototype and start real-world field trials of the first commercial unit in 2022.
It is similar to a regular double pane window and can be used in houses or buildings. It states that a typical residential window can produce more than 100 watts of power. To be compared with the fact that most typical rooftop solar panels produce approximately 300 watts per panel.
This invisible solar panel is a demonstration of how photovoltaic self-consumption will not only be for those who have large rooftops or outdoor spaces to place them. Because it replaces your windows, you can generate electricity for your home quickly and easily. What more could we ask of it? That it would work at night, something that Tesla thought was not so far-fetched and that’s why he got it.