LOOKING AT THE WORLD THROUGH SOLAR-TINTED WINDOWS

Solar energy-generating glass with a slightly reddish tint will soon have lucky users looking at the world through rose-colored windows.

Building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) is a dream of many in the solar industry. Turning building materials into energy-producing materials means incorporating the costs of one into the other. In this case, the cost of the windows would be high but there would be no cost of a rooftop installation.

Others are trying to create photovoltaic roofing materials. Caltech's solar guru Nate Lewis wants to create a solar paint.

Cost is always the issue in the solar energy industry. It's a burden, to be sure, but a better issue to struggle with than greenhouse gas emissions or peaking supplies, right?



Future of Solar-powered Houses Is Clear: New Windows Could Halve Carbon Emissions
April 10, 2008 (Queensland University of Technology via Science Daily)

WHO
Professor John Bell, Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Institute of Sustainable Resources (ISR) and Dyesol

click to enlarge

WHAT
Professor Bell is developing solar energy glass to act as both window and solar energy generator in houses or commercial buildings.

WHEN
The concept is still a few years away from the marketplace.

schematic of the window glass

WHERE
- Queensland is a state in Australia.
- Dyesol is based in Canberra.

WHY
- Part of a movement toward building-integrated solar technology, the solar energy glass could significantly cut home and building owners' energy costs and could, in fact, generate excess energy for sale to the grid or storage.
- The solar energy glass is one of many “practical technologies” currently under development at the QUT ISR and other research institutes.
- Research is presently focusing on how to get the material to generate energy from subdued or diffuse solar light as on cloudy days, at early mornings and late afternoons or when sunlight is indirect.

The Dyesol concept is to mimic photosynthesis. (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
- Professor Bell: "The transparent solar cells have a faint reddish hue but are completely see-through…The solar cells contain titanium dioxide coated in a dye that increases light absorption…The glass captures solar energy which can be used to power the house but can also reduce overheating of the house, reducing the need for cooling."
- Professor Bell: "As long as a house is designed throughout for energy efficiency, with low-energy appliances it is conceivable it could be self-sustaining in its power requirements using the solar-cell glass…Australian housing design tends to encourage high energy use because electricity is so cheap…But it is easy to build a house that doesn't need powered cooling or heating in Queensland."