A future where your home’s windows not only let in light but also power your appliances is no longer science fiction, it’s reality. That’s because a new generation of transparent solar panels, known as smart glass or transparent photovoltaic glass, is arriving in the United States, promising to transform glass facades into veritable invisible power plants. But how does this work in practice?And is this technology worth investing in?
How do these windows generate energy without darkening the room?
Let’s get straight to the point: these windows aren’t like the standard solar panels we’re used to seeing on rooftops. That’s because, while traditional solar panels absorb all visible light (hence their dark appearance), transparent solar panels operate much more subtly: they let through the light your eyes can see and capture only invisible rays, such as ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR). It’s as if the window has a “detective mode,” seeing what no one else sees and transforming it into electricity.
There are two main types:
- Fully transparent: identical in appearance to regular glass (but with lower efficiency).
- Semi-transparent: balancing visibility and energy generation with better practical results.
It’s worth noting that the technologies behind these windows include extremely thin materials such as perovskites, which are nothing more than quantum dots, and special polymers that can absorb energy without blocking the view.
Where can this type of solar panel be used?
So you might be wondering, “Cool, but where is this actually being used?” The answer is in more places than we could imagine:
- Sustainable architecture: think of glass buildings generating energy for their own consumption. The acronym BIPV (Building-Integrated Photovoltaics) has already become a trend in Europe and is starting to appear in the US.
- Electric vehicles: manufacturers are already testing this technology on solar roofs on cars, trains, and even boats, which helps charge batteries even when the vehicle is turned off.
- Smart cities: from streetlights, traffic lights, and sidewalks to urban panels that can use transparent panels to operate on clean, independent energy.
- Electronics and wearables: from solar watches to glasses with self-charging sensors, the idea of devices that never need an outlet is gaining traction.
In other words, besides versatility, one of the greatest advantages is aesthetics: the technology doesn’t interfere with the design of products or buildings. Everything works behind the scenes. This even reminds us of those other solar panels that, unlike this transparent one, are colored, you choose: green, red, orange, or silver, all with unexpected performance.
Why transparent solar windows could be our future?
Of course, it’s not all positives… Because it’s a new technology, cost is still a barrier, especially for 100% transparent models. Just to give you an idea, while a semi-transparent window can cost around $80/m², completely invisible versions exceed $400/m². Other than that:
- The average efficiency is still lower than that of traditional solar panels. While these reach 20–25%, transparent models are in the 7–10% range.
- The durability of materials like perovskite is still being optimized; many lose efficiency over time and with exposure to moisture.
- Energy production depends on UV and IR radiation, which can be compromised in locations with frequent cloudy days or constantly shaded windows.
Even with all this, with solar glass, we will adapt to what already exists, taking advantage of the current urban infrastructure to generate clean and local energy. Not stopping there, another advantage is the decentralization of energy generation. What does this mean? Well, instead of depending on distant plants or polluting sources, each building can produce part or all of the energy it consumes, with minimal impact on the landscape, just like this new wind turbine that has a futuristic and brilliant design, which corresponds to 10,000 solar cells.
