Transparent solar panels for use on windows
Using transparent solar panels, replacing the classic silicon photovoltaic cells, is a revolutionary proposal, given the transformative potential that its implementation would have on the cities of the future.
An initiative that has been developing for several years, proposes the use of state-of-the-art technology for the collection and subsequent use of light energy, either through windows or any glass surface, regardless of the angle, through translucent plates.
The future of solar panels may be transparent
There are many research projects that, at the engineering level, have worked on the development of methods that allow the capture of the sun’s energy through transparent instruments.
In general, most of these devices, called photovoltaic glasses, tend to function as a transparent solar concentrator, which means that they are made to absorb specific wavelengths of ultraviolet and infrared light, which are not visible to the naked eye, to produce energy ready for consumption.
This development arose as a product of a long period of research. In 2014, a team from Michigan State University in the United States developed the first fully transparent solar concentrator. By 2020, various scientific teams not only from the North American country, but also from Europe, managed to develop 100% transparent photovoltaic glass, created with the purpose of converting any window or glass plate into a solar energy capture cell.
Considering that at a cultural level, in a large part of our society, glass is very present in contemporary architecture, this solution could offer a first approximation for the energy self-sufficiency of certain infrastructures. For example, thanks to this model of energy generation, large buildings in metropolitan areas could be able to supply themselves with energy independently, reducing the demand that today falls on the central systems of the energy network, powered by fossil fuels. fossils in most cases.
If this system is adopted, it should be noted that it will not be easy to see it work anywhere, given that a large area is required for its installation and, furthermore, the associated costs are high. Based on this, it can be stated that the ideal setting for its use is in large cities, with skyscrapers or other types of imposing infrastructure.
As reported by the Michigan team dedicated to this project, this technology he is still in diaperssince there is still the challenge of increasing its efficiency, preserving a balance with its transparency, which is one of the key factors of the proposal.
In a world increasingly concerned about sustainability, a criterion that has influenced many projects recently developed, this solution could offer an interesting alternative for the clean generation of electricity, autonomously.
