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.
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Elna@YoNature | March 22, 2021 at 5:36 pm
So, basically, window panes will be able to produce electricity in the future?
[email protected] | April 2, 2021 at 11:03 am
Yes, Elna. It is a possibility. The world of solar is evolving very fast. Do go solar and reap its amazing benefits if you haven’t already.