Transparent solar cells make any glass surface a power generator

Daox · 08-04-14, 01:38 PM

Its an interesting idea. I'd sure love that on my windshield of my car or something. South facing windows? Great.

Transparent solar cells make any glass surface a power generator | DVICE

Quote:

Everything about the clear solar cell is nearly transparent, from its infared-absorbing plastic to the silver nano wire that allows it to carry a charge. As you can see above, it's pretty tough to see the difference between it and regular ol' glass — it's about 70 percent see-through. The downside? It's also only about 30 percent as efficient as current solar cells.

Don't lose hope, though. This from Deborah Netburn of the Los Angeles Times:

The good news is that the process is very economical, and the material can be fabricated as a liquid that can be sprayed on a surface, much in the same way that car factories spray paint onto automobiles.

Piwoslaw · 08-04-14, 02:05 PM

Tinted windows plus energy? What could be better??

NeilBlanchard · 08-08-14, 09:28 PM

West facing windows as well as south facing (in the northern hemisphere) are both good. West facing produces the most power near the end of the day, when electricity demand is highest.

08-04-14, 02:05 PM	#2
Piwoslaw Super Moderator Join Date: May 2009 Location: Warsaw, Poland Posts: 961 Thanks: 188 Thanked 110 Times in 86 Posts	Tinted windows plus energy? What could be better?? __________________ Ecorenovation - the bottomless piggy bank that tries to tame the energy hog.

08-08-14, 09:28 PM	#3
NeilBlanchard Journeyman EcoRenovator Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Maynard, MA Eaarth Posts: 383 Thanks: 78 Thanked 39 Times in 32 Posts	West facing windows as well as south facing (in the northern hemisphere) are both good. West facing produces the most power near the end of the day, when electricity demand is highest.