Image Source: Bloomberg

Have you ever wondered a future where the source of power to all your electronic gadgets will be the glasses of the building that you reside in? Yes, while this sounds too futuristic to imagine, the world is already headed towards that direction. It may soon become the reality of our modern life and infrastructure.

The Innovative Transparent Solar Cell

The work on the development of transparent solar cell technology has been underway for quite a few years now. And as per the latest developments, a team of researchers from the University of Michigan has achieved a new record with relation to the efficiency of the colour neutral transparent solar cells. As per the recent media reports, the team has achieved 8.1% efficiency and 43.3% transparency with an organic or carbon-based design rather than conventional silicon. The university had created the first fully transparent solar concentrator in 2014.

How will this Transparent Solar Technology work?

The way this transparent solar cell technology works is that when they are placed between the panes of double-glazed windows, they generate energy from the solar rays which pass through them. Similarly, when placed in glass facades, these solar cells can help the buildings generate their own electricity.

Since the buildings with glass facades typically have a coating on them to reflect most of the light from the sun in order to reduce the brightness and heating inside the building, the transparent solar cells can use this unwanted heat and light to generate electricity and fulfill the power needs of the buildings.

One of the major challenges that the technology puts forward is maximizing the cell’s energy efficiency without compromising its transparency. But with time even this is being overcome with roughly 2-3% efficiency in the past to the record-breaking 8.1% efficiency today.

What are the Possible Applications of this technology?

The possible application of this technology can go beyond imagination. From the rooftops and windows of cars to the body of cell-phones, from skyscrapers to wristwatches and calculators, the technology when available in the market can be applied to numerous products we use in our day to day life.

MYSUN’s Take

We at MYSUN believe that solar energy is inevitably going to become the primary source of power for the entirety of human civilization. And it is innovations like these which reaffirm our belief. The transparent solar cell technology will not only make going solar aesthetically stand out but will solve a major challenge of availability of space which is mandatory in order to install solar panels today. We are hopeful of the further development of the technology and are sure more businesses and homeowners will adopt solar in the near future.

Gujarat, one of the leading solar energy-rich states of India, recently released its new industrial policy. In the policy, the state has announced some major incentives for MSMEs looking to solar.

Having one of the most favourable solar policies in the country, Gujarat has already been ahead of most states when it comes to its installed solar capacity. Now with the introduction of these incentives, the state aims to increase its solar capacity further by making investing in solar more lucrative to the commercial and industrial power consumers. If you are a business leader of a Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise in Gujarat, then here are the benefits that you can avail under the state’s new industrial policy by going solar:

1. Increased compensation for the surplus solar power generated by solar systems owned by MSMEs

One of the things which makes going solar rewarding is the facility of net-metering. Net-metering allows solar system owners with grid-connected solar systems to transfer the excess power generated by their solar system to the grid. In return, the system owners avail compensation which increases their overall savings on power bills. As per the new policy, this compensation has been increased from INR 1.75/kWh to INR 2.25/kWh for MSMEs in Gujarat.

2. Interest Subsidy on Solar term loans

Installing a solar system requires a sizable investment. This makes it difficult for MSMEs, especially the ones with stretched balance sheets, to pay the cost of solar upfront. In such a scenario solar loans and financing options make the investment affordable. With this new industrial policy, Gujarat has made investing in solar more affordable for existing industries by promising interest subsidy on term loans for solar.

3. 35% Incentive on the Cost of Solar

In order to further motivate the MSMEs to switch to cleaner production technologies, the new industrial policy seeks to offer incentives on the cost of such technologies. Solar being one such technology will make MSMEs eligible to avail these incentives for going solar, which is 35% of the cost of solar. For large units, the incentive offered will be at 10% of the cost.

4. Assistance for turning polluting industries into green industrial estates

As per the new policy, the government of Gujarat will assist in setting up, relocating or retrofitting existing polluting industrial units into green industrial estates. The assistance will be up to 25% of the project cost up to 250 million rupees. This will be a big support to MSMEs and industries looking to go solar and transform into ecologically sustainable units.

MYSUN’s Take

This new industrial policy of Gujarat portrays the positive outlook of the policymakers towards the need of transforming industries into eco-friendly businesses. The financial support and incentives announced will help MSME’s go solar who otherwise would not be able to due to highly engaged working capital. The increase in solar tariff is a great move which will increase the financial benefits from solar for businesses. With such supportive measures in place, there is no reason to not go solar and avail the incredible benefits that come with it.