PV of the future: the photovoltaic glass
When you think of solar panels, comes to mind blacks extension of rectangles that cover the surfaces, obscuring everything that lies below. These, however, are the traditional photovoltaic cells. Now, however, there are due to advances in technology in this area, even the "photovoltaic glass."
It is true transparent panels because they use the glass as a base, thus leaving the light pass through and being able to cover surfaces such as glass skylights, roofs and facades. The building will gain in savings in energy and natural lighting manufacturer and will become "self" and independently of energy!
But let's see how they work. The photovoltaic glass are able to absorb light with a special paint treated with gel of amorphous silicon which transforms the panels in semiconductors. The technology today has allowed to make the panes of a transparency that it can be used even in homes. The cost is affordable and wanders about half of the traditional photovoltaic panel.
The gel can be applied both in an inner layer to the double glazing is superficially and works as an optimizer for the absorption of the rays, so as to maintain a degree of transparency of the glass of 30%, and thus promote the natural lighting. In the case of the interspace is able to produce up to 300 watts / square meter, for the film lying on the glass system is able to generate up to 100 watts / sq.
Many companies have already specialized in this new product but it is always better to rely on those who already have significant expertise in the production and assembly of complex solutions of solar panels.
For those who think that technology go fast and want to wait for new solutions, the good news is that MIT is studying a system to generate solar power from normal glass, without the use of glass or silicon photovoltaic cells. The film that covers the transparent panel capture solar rays thanks to a layer of differently colored molecules, which absorb different wavelengths. The efficiency is guaranteed "tuning" of each color of a certain wavelength, so as to control the process.
The study also a photovoltaic cell colored and transparent. This is not the glass to be treated with movies that capture and convert light energy directly into energy, but the panel to be as transparent as glass. Thanks to the titanium dioxide and a colored coating to increase the absorption of light, this "solar glass" (called glass solar cell precisely) also allows to reduce overheating of the house, thus limiting the need for cooling. With this technology you will be able to built the houses directly with photovoltaic panels transparent. With clear advantages in terms of performance and energy efficiency.
And 'the case to say, in the field of renewable energy, but especially in photovoltaic technology, now science fiction is becoming reality!
30/01/2012
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Translated via software
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Source:
Italian version of CercaGeometra.it