Opaque Solar Panels

Other research groups have previously worked on making see through solar cells usually by taking conventional opaque pv materials and either making them so thin they are translucent or segmenting them a process bulović likens to mounting pieces of a solar panel on a window with gaps for seeing out.

Opaque solar panels.

Solar power panels are designed to harvest sunlight to produce energy while the essential function of window blinds is to block direct sun s rays from entering. Solar pv panels can be used to replace a number of architectural elements that are commonly manufactured from glass. Making transparent solar cells out of naturally opaque crystalline silicon is one of the most challenging problems in the solar energy field. The material used to make the thin film cells is ideal for bipv solutions as it enables them to produce cells solar pv panels that are transparent or opaque.

Solar panel blinds are a supplement to transparent solar glass panels when using the window to generate electricity. Using solar pv cells in building facades and rooflight systems can result in an economical use of solar energy and creative architectural design. German giant heliatek gmb has already created a clear solar panel capable of producing solar energy with 7 2 efficiency. Solar pv glass is assembled by placing solar pv cells on a panel of glass.

Rather than throwing that energy away transparent solar panels could use it to take a bite out of the building s electricity needs. An easy to implement solar window technology. Yes it falls short when compared to the efficiency of opaque solar panels. This makes them ideal for a range of applications such as the following.