What if the windows in your house could capture solar energy while still providing an unobstructed view?
There have been numerous attempts in the past to create a solar panel that resembles typical glass, but without any success. Either the glass was not transparent enough, or the power-conversion efficiency was very low…just about 2%.
But now, a Maryland-based startup, SolarWindow Technologies, has announced that their revolutionary new transparent solar windows can generate 50 times more energy than the conventional solar panels being used today.
SolarWindow treats their glass panels with a photovoltaic coating in a liquid form to instantly generate energy. This coating can be applied to any glass or plastic surface on all four sides of a building, unlike conventional solar panels that can only be installed on rooftops.
Image courtesy http://solarwindow.com/
Revolutionary Transparent Solar Window Tech May be the Future of Energy
While their product is currently under development, SolarWindow Technologies plans to make this technology commercially available in the next 28 months. The company claims that the technology will be commercially viable and will reach the break-even point in about 25 years, or about the same amount of time it takes conventional solar panels to recoup their expense.
