New solar windows are expected to replace current rooftop solar panels: more stable and higher

Australian scientists published a paper in Nano Energy magazine that translucent solar cells that can be embedded in window glass may change architecture, urban planning and power generation.

Researchers led by the ARC Excitonic Science Center and Professor Jacek Jasieniak of Monash University have successfully manufactured the next generation of perovskite solar cells, which can generate electricity while passing light.

They are currently studying how to combine this new technology with the products of Australian glass manufacturer Viridian Glass.

This technology will transform windows into active generators, which may bring revolutionary changes to architectural design.

The researchers say that the electricity generated by a two-square-meter solar window is equivalent to a standard rooftop Solar Panel.

It is reported that the idea of translucent solar cells is not new, but previous designs have failed because they are very expensive, unstable or inefficient.

The stability of commonly used solar cell modules is very low, because it will form a useless water-based coating over time.

Professor Jasieniak and his research team used an organic semiconductor that can be made into a polymer to replace a commonly used solar cell module, which has produced amazing results.

Jacek said: "The conversion efficiency of rooftop Solar energy is between 15% and 20%." "The conversion efficiency of this translucent cell is 17%, but it can still transmit more than 10% of the incident light, so they are just in this area. It has always been a dream for people to have windows that generate electricity, and now it seems that this is possible. "

The research team is currently expanding the manufacturing process, and scientist Dr. Anthony Chesman said: "We will seek to develop a large-scale glass manufacturing process that can be easily transferred to industry so that manufacturers can easily adopt this Technology. "

Professor Jasieniak explained: "The transparency of solar cells can be increased or decreased. The more transparent they are, the less electricity they generate, which becomes an issue for architects to consider."

He also said that solar windows, which are the same level as current glass commercial windows, will generate about 140 watts of electricity per square meter.

It is understood that large windows in high-rise buildings are expensive to make, but the extra cost of incorporating such translucent solar cells into them is negligible.

"But even with additional costs, this building can use electricity for free," said Professor Jasieniak.

"These solar cells mean that the way we think about buildings and their functions will change dramatically. So far, the window design of every building is basically passive. Now they will actively generate electricity."

He also said: "Planners and designers may even have to reconsider how to arrange buildings on the site to optimize the way the walls absorb sunlight."

Researcher Dr. Jae Choul Yu said: "Our next project is to connect devices in series and use perovskite solar cells as the bottom layer and organic solar cells as the top layer."

As for when the first commercial translucent solar cell will be marketed, Professor Jasieniak said: "It will depend on the successful promotion of this technology, but our goal is to achieve this within 10 years."