Caring for our planet is becoming everything a challenge for society, where the main objective is reduce polluting gases. As the need for renewable energy sources on a global scale, is necessary to create new solutions that allow this growth.
Even though solar panels are a huge success, there are always many options to improve the technology existing. And this is where the windows come in photovoltaics or also known as solar windows.
We have to keep in mind that not everyone can use solar panels at home So find ways creative ways to counter this problem can lead to some notable and necessary advances.
Content menu:
They are a type of windows that generate energy from from the sun's rays. With different technologies, can turn a window into a “photovoltaic panel transparent», without losing the functionality you always has had.
Although there are already different techniques to achieve a transparent photovoltaic glass that generates energy; by means of liquid coatings, for nanotechnology and other advanced techniques achieving translucent windows that generate energy.
Initially, some time ago we talked about the first transparent solar panels, where they had developed a transparent material that was capable of generating electricity through infrared and ultraviolet waves. But, the "boom" of the solar window, began through the article published in the journal Nature with crystals translucent solar.
But… Can I buy a photovoltaic window today? The answer is YES. Although there is still a long way to go For this type of solar sheets, they are already being sold for everyone glass less transparent than a window normal (70% transparency), but with the ability to generate electricity more than acceptable.
In cost and price, according to information that we have reviewed, it is increases between 18 to 20% in building carpentry. Bearing in mind that we are talking about occupying a large part of the façade – building envelope with solar panels semi-transparent.
And, How much do solar panels cost? transparent? Well, according to a telephone consultation with a Spanish company; The most transparent glass of medium quality (Solar sheet), of almost a square meter, is around 116 Euros (Double glass), and with the best quality, it can reach 180 Euros with triple glass (It would be necessary to add the installation, + VAT).
From a street consumer perspective, maybe not yet It is not very profitable or viable to use a transparent solar module for a home, but if we talk about hotels, institutions, industrial warehouses or office buildings, here the return and energy saving can be very important.
What kind of options do I have if I want to use transparent solar panels in a project? Is it being using photovoltaic glass for; the facades, curtain walls, roofs, skylights, pergolas, railings, etc Come on, we have carpentry adapted to all types of holes.
We want to provide a real idea of a Spanish manufacturer about what we could buy if we want to apply it transparent solar glass panels in a project:
From a real construction and already completed, which have used solar films for windows in the building. For example, we have to move to the Institute Higher Canary Islands Studies (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria)
It has a system of glass slats integrated amorphous silicon photovoltaic vertically on the façade. It is a triple glass laminate of almost 3 meters long and half a meter wide, which It has a medium degree of transparency and has been combined with inactive glass, to provide the building with a unique aesthetic.
An aesthetic to get it right and that shows that design elegant is not incompatible with taking advantage of the envelope of building to produce electricity thanks to solar energy photovoltaic transparent in the form of glass solar if used in carpentry.
The solar window can be an innovation promises for the future of the energy sector already that there are several benefits that could bring us on the day to day.
Advantages and characteristics of windows solar:
But not everything is left here, great advances are happening in innovation…
Each year there are important technical advances and since In this section we want to show some points to highlight that will improve the functionalities of the solar window.
In this case, the American company ”New Energy Technologies”, is responsible for the creation of a type of liquid coating that could be applied to any transparent surface.
A coating capable of absorbing light and through Some conductors, which are connected to the window frame, are makes the extraction of energy, either towards a battery or directly to a device that consumes energy or the stock up.
The most interesting thing about this coating is that it can generate energy not only through the sun, but also in shady conditions thanks to artificial light, allowing it to be used in almost any type of house or building.
On the other hand, Chinese scientists from the University Technological Institute of South China, led by science professor and Hin-Lap Yip Engineering, have been able to develop a new type of material that can block the sun and produce energy.
This material, very similar to the pigment used in newspaper printing or window-darkening, get block the sun and produce energy. “Being able to reduce the electricity bill by more than 50%.”
Smart windows work like blinds or shutters. curtains. Depending on the time of day, they regulate the amount of light or heat that passes through the window of the houses or buildings.
In addition, they offer different forms of use, such as the summer, siesta or winter. The entrance of light is regulated as the Fixed awnings and heat. This type of windows are composed of a final layer of nanocrystals that change in depending on the electricity that passes through them and allowing to efficiently regulate not only the light, but the temperature according to the location of the same window.
Work is underway so that future buildings with large glass facades become true power producers to save electricity.
This could be possible by using some special crystals that will allow the windows not only control the outside light, but also function as a photovoltaic panel.
This new alternative to Sicily led by the researcher Olle Inganäs from the University of Linköping, in Sweden, paves a path within a dominated industry, until now for silicon.
Although these types of cells cannot yet compete in terms of efficiency with those of silicon, the truth is that this method advances to enter the market.
The organic solar cells offer several benefits among them, we can highlight its low cost in relation to the materials and the simplicity in what Regarding manufacturing methods: simple and fast.
For a few years there has also been a type of plates that combines photovoltaic solar energy with thermal, also called hybrid solar panels.
Although it seems obvious and should have been thrown into the market almost at the same time as its two functions by separated, we have had to wait more than 20 years for someone will dream about it, design it and make it happen.
Now, these plates are available, and there are even already many facilities working. These panels are known such as hybrid solar panels and offer numerous benefits:
If you liked the article, rate it and share!
