Invisible solar energy systems becoming more feasibleMarch 15, 2013
Solar energy systems may soon replace windows
Invisible solar cells have been a very attractive notion for the world of renewable energy for some time. Researchers interested in clean technology consider such solar cells to be an innovative way to solve some of the problems associated with solar energy, such as its adoption by large corporations. Such solar cells are not actually invisible, rather they are transparent but capable of collecting sunlight and converting it into electrical power. Researchers from New Energy Technologies, a research and development firm focused on renewable energy, has recently made a significant breakthrough concerning invisible solar cells.
Researchers develop transparent solar cells
New Energy Technologies has teamed with the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory to develop new solar energy systems. The public-private partnership has been focused largely on the development of transparent solar cells that could be suitable replacements for windows in large buildings. These solar cells would be able to collect sunlight and convert it into electrical power while also allowing much of this light to reach the interior of a building.
Solar cells win more support from National Renewable Energy Laboratory
In 2012, New Energy Technology researchers developed a working transparent solar module that was capable of collecting solar energy. This was accomplished through the development of a coating that would be applied to a transparent surface. The coating is based on the world’s smallest functional organic solar cells, which researchers claim is only one-fourth the size of a grain of rice. This week, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory renewed its partnership with New Energy Technologies in order to pursue the company’s transparent solar energy systems further.
Transparent solar cells could be a major boon for large buildings
Transparent solar energy systems have major implications for energy generation, especially in large cities. Invisible solar cells could be used to replace all the windows in a skyscraper, such as those found in New York City, and these solar cells could meet 100% of a building’s energy needs. Surplus energy could be funneled into a city’s energy grid, thus bolstering a city’s supply of renewable power. The problem, however, is finding a way to accomplish this feat in an affordable manner.
Mifumo ya nishati ya jua isiyoonekana inakuwa rahisi zaidi Machi 15, 2013 Mifumo ya nishati ya jua inaweza kuchukua nafasi ya madirisha Seli za jua zisizoonekana zimekuwa wazo la kuvutia sana kwa ulimwengu wa nishati mbadala kwa muda. Watafiti wanaopendezwa na teknolojia safi wanaona seli hizo za jua kuwa njia ya ubunifu ya kutatua baadhi ya matatizo yanayohusiana na nishati ya jua, kama vile kupitishwa kwake na mashirika makubwa. Kwa kweli, seli hizo za jua hazionekani, bali zinaonekana waziwazi lakini zina uwezo wa kukusanya nuru ya jua na kuigeuza kuwa umeme. Watafiti kutoka New Energy Technologies, kampuni ya utafiti na maendeleo ya nishati mbadala, hivi karibuni imefanya mafanikio makubwa kuhusu seli za jua zisizoonekana. New Energy Technologies (NYT) imeshirikiana na Maabara ya Kitaifa ya Nishati Mbadala ya Marekani (NRLL) kuendeleza mifumo mpya ya nishati ya jua. Ushirikiano wa umma na binafsi umezingatia sana maendeleo ya seli za jua za uwazi ambazo zinaweza kuwa mbadala mzuri wa madirisha katika majengo makubwa. Chembe za jua zinaweza kukusanya mwanga wa jua na kugeuza kuwa umeme, na pia kuruhusu mwanga huo ufikie ndani ya jengo. Kwa mfano, katika 2012, watafiti wa Teknolojia ya Nishati Mpya waliunda moduli ya jua ya kazi iliyo wazi ambayo ilikuwa na uwezo wa kukusanya nishati ya jua. Hilo lilitimizwa kwa kutengeneza kifuniko ambacho kingetumiwa kwenye uso ulio wazi. Kioo hicho kimejengwa kwa kutumia seli ndogo zaidi za jua za kikaboni, ambazo kwa mujibu wa watafiti zina ukubwa wa robo moja tu ya chembe ya mchele. Majaribio ya Kitaifa ya Nishati Inayoweza Kubadilishwa (NREL) imeanzisha ushirikiano wake na New Energy Technologies (NYT) ili kuendeleza mifumo ya nishati ya jua ya kampuni hiyo. Seli za jua za uwazi zinaweza kuwa faida kubwa kwa majengo makubwa Mifumo ya nishati ya jua ya uwazi ina athari kubwa kwa uzalishaji wa nishati, haswa katika miji mikubwa. Kwa mfano, chembe za jua zisizoonekana zinaweza kutumika kuchukua nafasi ya madirisha yote katika skyscraper, na zinaweza kukidhi mahitaji ya nishati ya jengo kwa asilimia 100. Nishati ya ziada inaweza kuelekezwa kwenye gridi ya nishati ya jiji, hivyo kuimarisha ugavi wa jiji la nishati mbadala. Hata hivyo, tatizo ni kupata njia ya kufanya hivyo kwa gharama nafuu.