Solar is one of most accessible sources of renewable energy for residential home owners and commercial businesses. Energy from the sun is harnessed to provide electricity. And so far, many residential and commercial building owners have already benefited from solar energy. In fact, as of early December 2018, over 2 million homes across Australia are enjoying the benefits of rooftop solar installations.
For one, it helps owners save thousands of dollars off their annual electricity bills when used instead of electricity sourced from the grid. Furthermore, apart from saving money, electricity produced from solar energy also earn credits when the excess electricity is sold to the grid. This is commonly referred to as feed-in tariffs. But today we wanted to share something with you that’s quite exciting for our industry.
Transparent Solar Panels. That’s right! Solar Installation On Your Windows!
The Future of Solar? Solar Cells in Your Window Pane or Your Office. Credit: ScienceMag
Right now, scientists from Michigan State University in the United States, are working on an exciting new innovation for solar photovoltaic cells. While we are more familiar with the current grid-like solar systems, researchers are developing see-through or transparent solar panels which can be used in different applications from charging of electronic devices, automotive, and infrastructure. You won’t be able to see the grids!
Previously MSU researchers tried developing a film that could be applied onto windows, but the tinting was said to be unappealing. As a result, that initiative was discontinued and instead, the team focused on creating a see-through innovation, aptly called the transparent luminescent solar concentrator (TLSC).
How it works
The Transparent luminescent solar concentrator can be placed on a clear surface such as a glass window. Upon installation, the clear device has the ability to absorb solar energy like usual solar panels.
TLSC uses material that cannot be seen, even by a microscope. But, it can absorb light within the infrared and ultraviolet light spectrum. Light from this spectrum is generated by the sun, and it is because of this, that the material becomes energised, allowing the energy to be converted to electricity.
Harvesting solar energy is achieved using special substances that absorb some of the sunlight. This is converted to electricity by special photovoltaic cells alongside the edge of the plastic or glass. Unlike current solar panels which can only be mounted in specific settings such as rooftops, sheds and land. But with this new innovation, there is more flexibility for mounting on surfaces.
Potential benefits
There are four potential benefits of transparent solar cells compared to traditional panels. These are:
1. Utilisation of pre-existing windows.
With transparent solar panels, it can utilize the use of the buildings’ glass windows. It won’t affect the overall look of the building and its architectural design. In fact, you won’t realise that the entire glass building is made up of transparent solar panels. It also means that it can also be applied to old, heritage buildings without significantly affecting the infrastructure.
2. Help businesses save money from energy consumption.
Dr. Lunt believes that it can help in significantly offset the energy use of large buildings. It’s therefore suited for modern buildings with plenty of windows, particularly those in our CBD.
3. It can be cheaper than traditional solar panels.
The New York Times reports how purchasing transparent solar devices such as this can be more affordable than traditional ones. It states that these solar cells can be “integrated into windows relatively cheaply.” Much of the cost of conventional photovoltaic panels are not from the solar cell itself but the materials it is mounted on and coating existing structures with solar cells would reduce some of the material cost.
4. Installation can be cheaper as well.
The researchers also believe that installing transparent solar cells can be more affordable than current solar systems. The solar cells will be added to existing glass instead of being mounted on a rooftop (in residential and some commercial installations.) Buying other components for mounting such as mounting rails, may not be necessary and hence it decreases the cost of installation.
4. It is weather-resistant and wash-proof.
The photovoltaic material that can be easily coated on the window’s inner surfaces. As a result, the cells can be protected when windows are washed or during the periods of harsh outdoor weather we are accustomed to in Cairns and Townsville.
Conclusion
This is an exciting moment for our industry and we wanted to share it with you. The financial benefits and sustainability of solar energy, as an electrical source can have a profound impact on your daily lives. It’s one of the reasons why we are driven to come to work everyday, and especially excited when there is an innovation that has the potential to change our industry.
Transparent solar cells holds plenty of promise. Unfortunately however, this elegant solution is not commercially available. One of the reasons is because the researchers have not been able to scale the production. Another reason is the solar conversion efficiency; the best transparent solar cells have a conversion efficiency of 7% while current solar cells have a conversion between 11 and 22%. Therefore, the best transparent solar cell is only performing at a third of the best cells currently on the market. It’s clear that there is a long way to go before a reasonable solution is released. Unfortunately, it is not likely to be released before our government solar incentives end. So don’t hold out waiting for such a solution. You’d save more when you take action today.
So if you want to start reducing your electricity bills, contact us for an obligation-free Energy Audit where we show you how you can reduce your electricity bills by as much as 80%. The solar installation will not be as transparent as a window but you won’t notice it on your rooftop. Instead, you’ll notice its effect on your energy bill! Simply complete the form below to get started.