This Window Harvests Energy, Boosts Home Efficiency by 50%

Author:

Jason Lomberg, North American Editor, PSD

Date:

07/05/2018

Tag:

#SouthChinaUniversityofTechnology #photovoltaics #energyharvesting #energyefficiency #solarcells

This Window Harvests Energy, Boosts Home Efficiency by 50%

Ever wanted to simultaneously harvest energy and reflect heat? How about a photovoltaic window?

Keep in mind a lot of this is theoretical. But apparently, researchers at South China University of Technology have constructed thin, see-through solar cells that, again, theoretically, could double a household’s energy efficiency.

“We can make organic photovoltaics into semi-transparent, lightweight, and colorful films that are perfect for turning windows into electricity generators and heat insulators,” claimed Hin-Lap Yip, a professor of materials science and engineering at the South China University of Technology, who also co-authored a study on this wonder material.

And his claims are beyond bold – the device would have to simultaneously harvest energy from sunlight and perform the traditional functions of a window via heat insulation. Indeed, as Off Grid Energy Independence points out, every square inch of every window would have to be covered in multifunctional solar cells to realize the promised energy savings.

But there’s a dash of wiggle room, since the solar cells in the study were only 6.5% efficient.

“For this demonstration, we are not even using the best organic photovoltaics that are out there in this field,” claimed Yip. “Their efficiency is improving rapidly….”