These ‘Invisible’ Solar Panels Pass Off As Totally Regular Windows
Solar panels have, most often, been a rooftop affair. After all, since their primary purpose is harnessing energy from the sun, it would make sense. Even improvements in their design still see the tech placed atop the roof.
However, another bit of real estate that sunshine often hits is the expanse of windows on a building, especially when they’re oriented East or West. Depending on the architectural design, it’s also possible that they provide a larger total surface area than what may be available on the roof.
Ubiquitous Energy is a startup developing solar panels based on this concept. Using research that began at MIT as a springboard, the development of this solar panel has led to them looking just like transparent glass.
This also means that they can act as unsuspecting windows while generating and storing solar energy.
“When you think about the commercial market, you can imagine big skyscrapers becoming vertical solar farms,” Susan Stone, CEO of Ubiquitous Energy, tells Fast Company.
Unlike typical solar panels, which capture the full solar spectrum, these windows only capture part of it. It’s also the reason why, unlike regular panels, these are transparent rather than black.
“We actually let the visible light that our eyes can see pass right through our material, and that makes it look invisible to us,” explains Miles Barr, co-founder and chief technology officer.
While it may mean that the panel absorbs around one-third less energy than its conventional counterparts, it has the advantage of being able to fit in where the regular panels may not.
Fast Company reports that the windows consist of two glass panes sealed together. These are then either connected directly to an appliance near the window—a lamp, for example—or hooked up to a battery in the building.
Ubiquitous Energy claims that its proprietary UE Power tech, paired with architectural glass, is capable of offsetting up to 10% of global CO2, with solar windows having the potential to offset around 30% of building electricity.
Plus, the transparent panels are eligible for solar investment tax credits and boast a payback period of less than four years.
“Solar windows allow building occupants to retain clear, vibrant experiences that a traditional window offers while being a powerful tool in the quest for optimal energy,” a blog post writes. “This allows for an improved tenant experience, and thus they bring an overall elevation to the building’s net worth.”
“By marrying UE Power technology and architectural glass, we stand to gain a cleaner, more economic future for the world around us.”
To date, Ubiquitous Energy has raised around US$70 million in funding, including a recent US$30 million Series B funding round, per Renewables Now.
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[via Fast Company and Renewables Now, images via Ubiquitous Energy]
