Via GoodCleanTech, 11 August 2010
Norwegian company EnSol AS has managed to create a transparent film that can harness solar energy. Because the film is transparent, it can be used for a variety of applications, including windows.
"One of the key advantages is that it is a transparent thin film that can be coated onto window glass so that windows in buildings can also become power generators," Team leader Professor Chris Binns told the Daily Mail. "Conversely the structural material of the building can also be coated. This could be side panels of the building itself or even in the form of 'clip-together' solar roof tiles."
The film isn't spray-on, but instead needs to be built into the materials's coating during the manufacturing process. In addition to windows and stationary buildings, Binns also says the film could be built into the roofs of cars, allowing passengers to charge up their gadgets via the sun.
It'll be a while before we all have solar power generating windows, however, as the new technology won't be commercially released until at least 2016.
Comments
Solar PV cells convert electromagnetic radiation into an electric current.
Furthermore, electromagnetic radiation is defined as: Quote:(Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electro-magnetic_radiation).
Now what if these guys have developed a film that only absorbes the UV or other non-visible light spectrum? That still leaves you with your visible light PLUS gives you the advantage of UV protection of your interior environment ie curtains, carpet, paintings, etc...
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