According to Total Roofing & Reconstruction, traditional solar panels are usually positioned on rooftops where they are out of sight. For years, tech companies have been working to develop clear solar panels that can double as see through window glass.
Dutch designer Marjan van Aubel has developed this beautiful stained glass window that generates an electrical current by harvesting sunlight. The glass pieces used in the window are made of ‘Dye Sensitized Solar Cells’ which use properties of color to create an electrical current. When the sunlight hits colored pigments of the window glass, it harnesses energy just like photosynthesis in plants.
Image courtesy http://www.marjanvanaubel.com/
Even non-direct and dim sunlight can generate a small electrical charge.
The power can be sent to a USB port in the window ledge that can charge gadgets like phones or laptops. It can charge a standard smartphone in about seven hours.
Though the stained glass won’t absorb as much energy as a conventional solar panel, if the idea could be replicated on a large scale, it could definitely make a difference. It can be used for windows in schools, large buildings or churches.
