What is solar powered window?
Did you know that energy generation from renewable sources will grow by 50% in 5 years? Specifically, the installation of solar panels will account for up to 60% of this increase. This is because solar energy can be applied to different areas. For example, housing, transportation, public lighting, and technologies such as solar windows.
In addition, it is an inexhaustible and sustainable resource that does not generate pollutants. This is reason enough for scientists around the world to study the possibilities of making the most of it. Such is the case of researchers at Michigan State University (MSU) who have developed solar windows. Find out more about it below.
What is solar window?
Solar windows are basically a transparent solar material that is applied to a window. It is an invention by researchers at MSU, in the United States.
It is considered that this system could generate as much energy as conventional solar panels. In fact, its operation is similar to roof photovoltaic panels. In this sense, it collects sunlight to convert it into energy. All this on transparent glass surfaces.
How does solar window works?
In principle, these transparent panels use organic molecules to absorb wavelengths of infrared and ultraviolet light that are not visible to the naked eye, similar to Grätzel cells. As part of this process, this light is transformed into electrical energy.
Since 2020, there is a history of transparent solar windows. However, in this case the novelty is that the organic molecules are generated by the MSU researchers.
In this sense, these plates stand out for converting a simple glass surface into a photovoltaic cell. Regarding its characteristics, they can be defined as a thin plate, similar to plastic and 100% transparent.
On the other hand, it is expected that in the future it can be used both in building windows and in car windows. Notably, it would not interrupt the view through the glass.
For example, buildings with glass on their facades to illuminate the interior are the perfect setting for these innovative solar panels. This is because all the solar energy they receive could be used.
The benefits of solar windows
This evolution brings great benefits to reduce the use of fossil fuels and commit to sustainability. Here are the most notable:
- It is a technology that could be applied to any glass surface. Unlike conventional panels that require more space for installation.
- Compared to other alternatives, its main contribution is that, being a transparent solar panel, it facilitates new applications.
- Its new applications could represent additional functionality in buildings, automobiles, and mobile electronics.
The future of solar windows
According to MSU’s Richard Lunt, there are approximately 7 billion square meters of glass surface area in the United States alone. In this sense, the application of transparent panels could satisfy up to 40% of the electricity demand in that country. It could even approach 100% if energy storage methods are improved.
However, this technology is currently only at a third of its potential. This is why its creators continue working to face its limitations. And although it could represent a great advance for humanity, solar windows still cannot replace conventional solar panels. In summary, these transparent plates become an opportunity to create windows capable of generating solar energy. A promising goal to make the most of this inexhaustible resource.