Solar energy adoption keeps expanding, yet the equipment required remains bulky, demanding dedicated space like rooftops. Innovators worldwide are exploring ways to bypass this limitation by integrating solar panels into existing flat surfaces such as roads or Tesla roofing tiles.
The notion of transparent solar panels is captivating because it could transform every window—or even smartphone screens—into energy-producing surfaces. Imagine the possibilities!
Over the years, we've encountered numerous headlines and viral posts about breakthroughs in transparent solar technology, only to later discover they were either exaggerated or still in their infancy.
So, where does the transparent solar industry stand today? Is it close to becoming a reality, or is it merely a futuristic concept akin to science fiction?
Summary:
- Transparent solar panels aren't yet available off-the-shelf, and widespread residential use might still be years away.
- The technology has been proven functional but is only about half as efficient as traditional solar panels.
- Research teams globally are working on transparent solar, achieving varying degrees of commercial success.
- Most transparent solar panels currently in use are found in commercial and experimental settings.
- Except for an experiment in Korea, transparent solar panels aren’t entirely transparent; there’s a trade-off between transparency and power generation.
- Despite limited transparency, studies show that transparent panels work well for growing plants in greenhouses.
- An alternative, less experimental approach involves embedding solar panels in window blinds.
Transparent solar panels may seem absurd to those familiar with standard solar technology. Traditional panels absorb solar energy and convert it into electricity. How can a panel be both transparent and absorb solar energy?
The idea is straightforward: capture the invisible UV spectrum while allowing visible light to pass through. While such panels can't match the efficiency of opaque ones, researchers argue that their potential lies in replacing existing windows, making up for inefficiency with sheer volume. Estimates suggest there are 5-7 billion square meters of windows in the U.S., with an additional 2.5 billion square meters of glass installed globally each year.
However, the practical implementation is more complex, and various techniques have been developed worldwide to achieve this seemingly simple concept.
In the U.S., two key figures in transparent solar tech are MIT professor Vladimir Bulović and Michigan State University professor Richard Lunt, who began his research at MIT before moving to MSU. Lunt demonstrated the technology at MSU in 2015. Together with Miles Barr, they co-founded Ubiquitous Energy to capitalize on the innovation. The company claims to have the only truly transparent solar panels, but even then, they are only 40-80% transparent with up to 10% efficiency (top solar panels today reach about 23%).
Despite operating for a decade, Ubiquitous Energy has only two public installations: at its own headquarters in Redwood City, California, and at the NSG Pilkington Facility in Northwood, Ohio. The company mentioned there are more installations coming soon, including one at a significant landmark.
NSG Group, one of the world's largest manufacturers of commercial glass products, partnered with Ubiquitous Energy in 2019 to integrate UE’s ClearView Power solar coating into architectural glass. This collaboration makes sense given NSG’s Pilkington subsidiary produces glass for solar panels and solar control glass.
On the other side of the globe, Australian firm ClearVue operates similarly to Ubiquitous Energy’s model, using a film sandwiched between glass panes to direct light to solar cells in the window frame.
If you're in West Perth, you can visit ClearVue's showroom to see the panels in action. ClearVue's windows have been installed in universities, luxury villas, and notably at the Warwick Shopping Centre Atrium, where ClearVue claims it generates about 1.6 kWh per day from 25 square meters of window. After accounting for battery and DC-to-AC losses, this is quite impressive.
ClearVue admits that a 22% efficient traditional solar panel, assuming optimal placement, generates six times more energy than its clear panels. ClearVue windows cost about $400 per square meter (in American dollars), excluding framing and installation.
By contrast, non-solar low-E windows cost about $14 per square foot in the U.S. With approximately 10.8 square feet in a square meter, covering a square meter with typical low-E would cost about $150, roughly $250 less per square meter than ClearVue. ClearVue claims the extra cost can be recovered within a year, and the panels last about 20 years.
Earlier this year, Professor Joondong Kim of Incheon National University announced a breakthrough in transparent solar technology: fully transparent solar panels. Kim’s approach embeds titanium dioxide or nickel oxide directly into the glass to absorb solar energy. Both materials are highly transparent. Titanium dioxide is already used in solar cells and is environmentally friendly, while nickel oxide is abundant and cost-effective.
Since the panels are fully transparent, Kim envisions their integration into phone screens. However, commercial applications are likely years away, and the cells only have 2.1% efficiency. While impressive given their transparency, the impact on battery life for phones remains uncertain.
Swiss startup Insolight, creators of THEIA agrovoltaic panels, boasts the world’s most efficient translucent photovoltaic module, reaching up to 30% efficiency due to its unique hexagonal lenses concentrating sunlight. THEIA panels are designed for greenhouses and come in two modes: E-Mode, which generates power and transmits diffuse light, and MLT-Mode, which is 78% transparent but produces no electricity. Thus, Insolight’s approach presents a clear trade-off.
Research from North Carolina State University suggests that transparent panels absorbing UV and infrared rays provide enough sunlight for crops, especially in sun-rich regions.
An alternative approach comes from Ukrainian firm SolarGaps, embedding solar panels in window blinds. They claim one square meter of their blinds can generate up to 100 watts per hour. Unlike other firms mentioned, SolarGaps allows online orders with prices starting around $700 (excluding inverter and shipping) for a 33×33-inch blind generating 74 watts per hour.
This blend of innovative solutions shows promise but also highlights the challenges in balancing efficiency and practicality in transparent solar technology.
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