UCLA researchers recently announced they have developed a new transparent solar cell that could give windows in homes and other buildings the ability to generate electricity while still allowing people to see outside.
The UCLA team says it is a new kind of polymer solar cell (PSC) that produces energy by absorbing mainly infrared light, rather than visible light, making the cells nearly 70 per cent transparent to the human eye. They made the device from a photoactive plastic that converts infrared light into an electrical current.
Apart from the savings at a domestic level, imagine the amount of solar power that could be generated by all those high-rise office buildings in the CBD.
Solar cells could turn our windows into power generators
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Matthew Wild·Double benefit here, solar eletricity and a reduction in heat energy for large office buildings by converting it to electricity. Thus redcuing the reliance on air conditioning. Win-Win.
9 months ago
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Leeanne Holland Naturopath @ Naturalee ·Fascinating - energy from plastic!
9 months ago