Pipe GSGJ Transparent solar cells placed on windows produce energy

Transparent solar cells placed on windows produce energy

by
Anonymous Coward
in science on (#GSGJ)
Although the sun has by far the largest potential of any energy resource available to civilization, our ability to harness that power is limited. Photovoltaic panels mounted on rooftops are at best 20 percent efficient at turning sunlight to electricity.

Research has boosted solar panel efficiency over time. But some scientists argue that to truly take advantage of the sun's power, we also need to expand the amount of real estate that can be outfitted with solar, by making cells that are nearly or entirely see-through, i-e transparent cells.

A Silicon Valley startup named "Ubiquitous Energy" has succeeded in creating such transparent solar cells.

Organic chemistry is the secret to creating such material.

Manufacturing cost of organic solar is less comparing to the conventional silicon solar panels.

ClearView Power Technology of the Ubiquitous energy is a transparent solar cell that can coat any surface, including displays and windows, to harvest ambient light and generate electricity. Clean, clear Ubiquitous Energy.

Ubiquitous engineers are building organic photovoltaic structures 1,000 times thinner than a human hair.

Ubiquitous Energy has redesigned the solar cell to selectively transmit light visible to the human eye while absorbing only the ultraviolet and infrared light and converting it into electricity.

This makes ClearView Power technology the first truly transparent solar technology, allowing any surface to convert ambient light into useful electricity without impacting the way it looks. Two thirds of the light available for energy harvesting is in the ultraviolet and the infrared, leading to practical efficiencies over 10% while maintaining up to 90% visible transparency.

History

2015-08-08 13:55
Outfit your windows with transparent solar panels?
zafiro17@pipedot.org
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anufacturing cost of organic schemical prolar is lcess comparing to they conventional silicon solar panels.

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the first truly trans importarent step forward in solar power generatechniologyn, or does allowdding awiny dowsurface to convert ambient light into useful electricity without impacting the way mitx lcooks. Two thirds of the light available for energy harvestintute a gimmick? How do we get people more interested in the ultravisolet and the infrared, leading to practical efficiencies over 10% while maintaining up to 90% visible transparency.?
2015-08-08 13:58
Outfit your windows with transparent solar panels?
zafiro17@pipedot.org
Despite the immense potential of solar energy, at present, roof-mounted photovoltaic panels are able at best to capture about 20% of the available energy. And that despite research that has led to gains! To improve energy generation, you either increase solar panel efficiency, or increase their coverage. Enter a Silicon Valley startup named "Ubiquitous Energy."

Ubiquitous Energy produces transparent solar cells using an organic chemical process they call "Clearview Power Technology." They claim their panels cost less than traditional tech and can be built 1000x thinner than a human hair. The system captures ultraviolet and infrared light and lets the rest pass through as it would normally.

National Geographic has a look at the technology here.

Is this an important step forward in solar power generation, or does adding windows to the mix constitute a gimmick? How do we get people more interested in solar energy?

[Ed. Note: the article image chosen here is of an invisible solar panel placed over the entirety of the text.]
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