Harvesting solar power may be a slow-evolving, green technological pursuit, but it is the one everybody’s most excited about. This excitement is largely justified by the fact that there are few potential renewable energy sources on the planet as consistent and reliable as the sun. It’s clean, free, and inexhaustible. Earlier this year, we looked at some of the major contemporary advancements in solar technology, recognizing the rising interest in “solar glass,” which could potentially revolutionize the construction industry and turn every building, regardless of its form, function, and location, into a solar collector.
Researchers at Michigan State University, UCLA, and other institutions have been developing transparent solar cells that allow a larger percentage of light to pass through glass and maintain a higher degree of transparency while collecting solar energy. Some companies, including XsunX, managed to manufacture this type of window. Most recently, a Columbia, Md.-based manufacturer made quite a splash with its innovative breakthrough in solar technology called SolarWindow™.
SolarWindow module
SolarWindow is an electricity-generating liquid coating that can be applied to the interior of glass or plastic window units. It is made of polymers dissolved into liquid form, the active part of which absorbs light, while the transparent conductors enable energy extraction. Unlike with other lower-cost, flexible thin-film solar materials, the production of SolarWindow doesn’t require high-vacuum and high-temperature production techniques. The company, SolarWindow Technologies, announced that its new solar cells can produce 50 times the energy of commonly used solar panels and promise a faster return on the investment compared to a typical solar setup. Their first financial modeling results show that SolarWindow achieves payback within one year, producing the equivalent amount of power that would require conventional solar systems five to 11 years for payback (not to mention the amount of urban land it would occupy). Instead of requiring acres of real estate, SolarWindow can be installed on glass surfaces of skyscrapers and towers, including their shaded areas, and would most likely come with a 25-year warranty. It would also generate electricity under artificial light and could be manufactured in different colors while remaining see-through.
SolarWindow transparency
The technology is extremely well-suited for high-speed roll-to-roll and sheet-to-sheet manufacturing, which can significantly cut production and transportation costs. According to calculations of the environmental benefits of the company’s modules installed on a single 50-story tower, the project cut carbon emissions produced by transportation and provided the reductions in carbon emissions equivalent to 770 acres of forest, compared to today’s rooftop (PV) systems with only 20 to 70 acres.
Energy (kWh) generated by SolarWindow vs. Other Solar. Modeled for 50-story buildings in cities across America.
SolarWindow is currently under development for the estimated 85 million commercial buildings and detached homes in America. The company is looking to secure independent third-party validation of their financial modeling and is hoping to have the first panels available within the next four years. Prospective buyers can check out the company’s website, which features an extensive amount of evaluation charts and technical data along with a recently released promo video that demonstrates the transparency and power of a working SolarWindow unit. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that the company delivers on its promises and backs up its ambitious claims.
