Roofs have become literally the main platform for generating power from the sun that provides our homes with off the grid electricity. As grid-connected photovoltaics are the fastest growing energy technology in the world, solar panels and solar tiles are being improved by innovators to make this technology more available on the market. These innovators can be found in many photovoltaics companies. Just like any other market, as soon as one of these companies develops a new innovative solar product, the rest follow, trying to opt their game. For this very reason, we can accept solar energy to improve even more in the future.
One of the latest developments in the photovoltaics industry is the Invisible Solar Cells. The explanation is in the name, as it is basically solar cells that are invisible to the eye. The fact that solar panels or solar tiles have a standardized look to them that make them very noticeable on a rooftop, can make them very unappealing for some people. These new Invisible Solar Cells do not only hold the benefit of being aesthetically appealing, but there are more good qualities to them that can provide us with endless possibilities.
How are Invisible Solar Cells Made?
Invisible solar cells are specifically designed only to catch the light from the invisible ends of the spectrum that comes from the energy of the sun. The rest of the light which are the infrared light and visible light passes through the cells. This process causes the cells to appear invisible. The crystalline silicon-based solar technologies are then possible to be molded into modules of this process.
How are Invisible Solar Cells Used?
The end product is cells that can be blended in with building surfaces of all colors, even pure white, giving the panels an invisible look. Invisible Solar is very adaptable as it fits in with the appearance of the main building, therefore can become part of many combination, shapes, and colors, like terracotta, concrete, wood, and stone. These cells are not only a photovoltaic panel but an active architectural element that has different functions that work at a lower temperature as they do not use visible light to generate heat. They look like glass, which allows them to be used on windows as well, like windows of tall buildings or cars. It is even possible to combine them with consumer products. With solar cells that are not noticeable, homeowners do not have to worry about damaging the "look" of their homes while taking advantage of the power of the sun.
Many companies have come up with their own version of the "invisible" solar cells or ways how to implement it into their solar panels; like the Silicon Valley startup, Solaria, Tesla and much more, according to Phys.org. It was a Swiss firm, SCEM, who has developed the first truly invisible solar panels. This is an innovation that can be expected to bring on many possibilities and are of interest to the consumer electronics industry that will allow manufacturers to implement it on surfaces of laptops and phones. Who knows, maybe the possibilities of a solar city is not too far in the future.
(http://www.dyaqua.it/invisiblesolar/_en/)
Article written by Matthew, Reilly Roofing, a local roofing contractor editor and writer on topics covering green technology and construction.