New Energy Found in Solar Paint
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by: SallyFields | Total views: 25 | Word Count: 314
Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are suffering from a distinctive kind of dye that may transform windows into photovoltaic solar power panels, based on articles recently published within the journal "Science".
The brand new technology could be in commercial production inside a year but most likely within the following 3 years. Beyond simply powering individual homes, it may be also used to transform skyscrapers into power plants.
"It is sensible to coat the side of tall buildings with these new panes," researcher Marc Baldo said. "It is very doable once people are open to the idea."
While other types of solar panels research ways to gather more solar energy from individual panels by tracking and magnifying sunlight onto large collectors. These devices are bulky and expensive. They also need massive regions of ground or roof space to move.
The current device merely utilizes existing windows as collectors, funneling the light energy to solar panels within the window frames.
"What we have is really a bit of glass, having a very thin layer of paint or dye on top," Baldo said. "The light comes in and hits the dye ... which absorbs it and re-emits the light, however it's within the glass so it bounces along there until it gets to the edge. Which means you only need to mount the solar panels round the edge."
Even though dye would alter the appearance from the glass, Baldo said, it shouldn't significantly hamper the fundamental functions of a window.
"The coated glass would let through about Ten percent of the sun to illuminate the area, and also the remainder would be captured and funneled towards the edges to solar cells to create electricity," he explained. "It would look like tinted glass due to the dyes."
The researchers asserted the dyes may also enhance the efficiency of existing panels by 50 percent, by simply placing the dyed glass along with them.
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Learn more about home solar panels. Stop by Sally Fields's site where you can find out all about solar dye panels and what they can do for you.
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