[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Solar Power Window Film” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left|color:%23ea5a06″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_empty_space alter_height=”small” hide_on_desktop=”” hide_on_notebook=”” hide_on_tablet=”” hide_on_mobile=””][vc_column_text]
Turning Windows Into Solar Panels
[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space alter_height=”small” hide_on_desktop=”” hide_on_notebook=”” hide_on_tablet=”” hide_on_mobile=””][vc_column_text]Here at TWF, we’re all about Technical Window Films – it’s who we are and it’s what we do! And we are always excited to learn about the latest technical advancements in the world of window films…
The solar control and energy efficient films that we install currently are the most technically advanced window films that you’ll find on the market today. However, over the last few years, we have seen some huge technological advancements in the world of window film and whilst some of these exist today, they haven’t yet been applied to the window film market in a feasible way to cause large-scale implementation – Smart Window Film for example, also referred to as Switchable Film, which requires an electrical current to manually control the opacity for privacy and solar control.
Now it seems the next huge technological advancement in the window film industry is on its way… Solar Power Window Film![/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space alter_height=”small” hide_on_desktop=”” hide_on_notebook=”” hide_on_tablet=”” hide_on_mobile=””][vc_column_text]
Electric-Generating Windows
[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space alter_height=”small” hide_on_desktop=”” hide_on_notebook=”” hide_on_tablet=”” hide_on_mobile=””][vc_column_text]There are already solar power windows available in the marketplace today but a US company, SolarWindow Technologies, is developing a product based on a photovoltaic film, that can be used on existing windows.
Photovoltaic technology converts daylight into electricity, similar to a traditional solar panel. By using photovoltaic technology (PV) in a glass application you could effectively turn the glass surfaces of a building into solar panels which can be used to power the building. Imagine the entire skin of a high rise building effectively acting as a giant solar panel collecting energy all day long as the sun hits the glass… This makes photovoltaic glass an extremely efficient renewable energy source.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space alter_height=”small” hide_on_desktop=”” hide_on_notebook=”” hide_on_tablet=”” hide_on_mobile=””][vc_column_text]
Environmental Benefits
[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space alter_height=”small” hide_on_desktop=”” hide_on_notebook=”” hide_on_tablet=”” hide_on_mobile=””][vc_column_text]The solar power window coating has been engineered to uniquely address a growing market opportunity for technologies able to generate sustainable electricity. Rising energy costs, increasing electricity consumption, and the need for a cleaner alternative to today’s non-renewable energy sources, all contribute to the growing demand for clean, renewable alternative energy.
Many buildings are not good candidates for rooftop solar power systems and cannot participate in the clean power revolution that rooftop solar is bringing to many homeowners. Solar powered windows could change that dynamic by providing the benefits of electricity from clean solar power to all buildings. Apply that to buildings around the world and you have the potential for a significant new source of clean, renewable energy that will pay for itself in a matter of months rather than a period of years.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space alter_height=”small” hide_on_desktop=”” hide_on_notebook=”” hide_on_tablet=”” hide_on_mobile=””][vc_column_text]
Environmental Benefits
[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space alter_height=”small” hide_on_desktop=”” hide_on_notebook=”” hide_on_tablet=”” hide_on_mobile=””][vc_column_text]The solar power window coating has been engineered to uniquely address a growing market opportunity for technologies able to generate sustainable electricity. Rising energy costs, increasing electricity consumption, and the need for a cleaner alternative to today’s non-renewable energy sources, all contribute to the growing demand for clean, renewable alternative energy.
Many buildings are not good candidates for rooftop solar power systems and cannot participate in the clean power revolution that rooftop solar is bringing to many homeowners. Solar powered windows could change that dynamic by providing the benefits of electricity from clean solar power to all buildings. Apply that to buildings around the world and you have the potential for a significant new source of clean, renewable energy that will pay for itself in a matter of months rather than a period of years.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space alter_height=”small” hide_on_desktop=”” hide_on_notebook=”” hide_on_tablet=”” hide_on_mobile=””][vc_column_text]
Rapic Payback: Under 1 Year, Industry’s Fasted Calculated Financial Return
[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space alter_height=”small” hide_on_desktop=”” hide_on_notebook=”” hide_on_tablet=”” hide_on_mobile=””][vc_column_text]This amazing solar technology where transparent electricity-generating coatings are applied to glass, has been engineered to outperform conventional solar with the industry’s fastest financial payback.
The SolarWindow systems can be installed on the readily-available vast window glass surfaces on tall buildings and skyscrapers, and achieves payback within just one year, according to first-ever independently validated financial modelling results. To produce the equivalent amount of energy with conventional solar systems would require at least 5-11 years for payback and at least 10-12 acres of valuable urban land for solar array fields.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space alter_height=”small” hide_on_desktop=”” hide_on_notebook=”” hide_on_tablet=”” hide_on_mobile=””][vc_column_text]
Safe, Low-Cost, High-Speed Manufacturing Using Organic Materials
[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space alter_height=”small” hide_on_desktop=”” hide_on_notebook=”” hide_on_tablet=”” hide_on_mobile=””][vc_column_text]The SolarWindow technology is created by applying ultra-thin transparent, electricity-generating liquid coatings onto glass surfaces. The liquid coatings are primarily made of hydrogen and carbon – two of the most abundant materials found in nature – and they produce ultra-small solar cells and form groups called ‘arrays’.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space alter_height=”small” hide_on_desktop=”” hide_on_notebook=”” hide_on_tablet=”” hide_on_mobile=””][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/iKngjA_itCs” align=”center”][vc_empty_space alter_height=”small” hide_on_desktop=”” hide_on_notebook=”” hide_on_tablet=”” hide_on_mobile=””][vc_column_text]
How It Works
[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space alter_height=”small” hide_on_desktop=”” hide_on_notebook=”” hide_on_tablet=”” hide_on_mobile=””][vc_column_text]The SolarWindow technology is referred to as “organic photovoltaic” – the coatings are organic since the compounds are largely made of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen.
The layer that’s in the middle is the “active layer” which generates the electricity. And that’s where light energy is absorbed and converted using the principle of photovoltaic. The electricity moves through the device, goes to the surface of the glass, and then moves off to the side of the glass, where it is then picked up by the proprietary interconnection system that connects the window to wires.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space alter_height=”small” hide_on_desktop=”” hide_on_notebook=”” hide_on_tablet=”” hide_on_mobile=””][vc_column_text]
What’s Special About Solar Window Technology
[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space alter_height=”small” hide_on_desktop=”” hide_on_notebook=”” hide_on_tablet=”” hide_on_mobile=””][vc_column_text]Unlike conventional solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, the solar power window coatings can be applied to all sides of tall towers or skyscrapers, to generate electricity under very diverse light conditions.
The coatings have been scientifically designed to work under both natural sunlight and artificial light. But what really is special is that we can bring the technology indoors, and the light that is within your office can be used to generate electricity. The other unique feature of this technology is that the light doesn’t have to be direct – it can be indirect, shaded, diffused or even reflected light![/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space alter_height=”small” hide_on_desktop=”” hide_on_notebook=”” hide_on_tablet=”” hide_on_mobile=””][vc_column_text]
How This Compares To Today’s Solar
[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space alter_height=”small” hide_on_desktop=”” hide_on_notebook=”” hide_on_tablet=”” hide_on_mobile=””][vc_column_text]In comparison to conventional solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies, SolarWindow coatings have numerous advantages:
- Designed to generate electricity on glass, enhancing the performance of today’s typically insulated commercial and residential windows – Traditional solar cannot be applied to glass windows
- See-through, with high level of ‘visible light transmission’ – Traditional solar is not see-through
- Able to generate significant electricity from natural, artificial or even shaded light – Traditional solar does not work in artificial or shaded light
Currently the solar power window film is still under development and not available for sale yet, but the main priorities in continuing to develop the technology appear to be power efficiency and maintaining a scalable level of affordability, so that solar power can continue to grow as a major player in the field of renewable energy.
As always, we are keeping up to date with technological advancements and are interested to see when this amazing product comes to market and how feasible it would be for widespread use, including smaller buildings and residential applications…
As demand increases for advanced technologies in the glass industry, so will the demand for modern, film-based solutions. And so, with the glass industry leading the way in this area, the window film industry will follow right behind it to try to integrate these technical advancements onto existing glass…
A lot could happen in the next few years, but right now we continue to offer the latest in advanced window films, providing a variety of affordable window tinting solutions for any modern glazing situation.
For more information about SolarWindow, see www.solarwindow.com[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]