UCLA Develops Transparent, Electricity-Generating, Solar Cell Windows

Posted by samzenpus on Monday July 23, 2012 @03:46AM from the look-at-the-energy dept.

Elliot Chang writes "A team from UCLA has developed a new transparent solar cell that has the ability to generate electricity while still allowing people to see outside. In short, they've created a solar power-generating window! Described as 'a new kind of polymer solar cell (PSC)' that produces energy by absorbing mainly infrared light instead of traditional visible light, the photoactive plastic cell is nearly 70% transparent to the human eye — so you can look through it like a traditional window."

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exclamation marks look terrible here by CalRobert · 2012-07-23 03:54 · Score: 5, Insightful

Want to sound like a fourth grader shilling their science project? Use exclamation marks in your summary.
Re:4% by Eightbitgnosis · 2012-07-23 05:01 · Score: 3, Insightful

As apposed to the great results we're getting from the 0% efficiency models? For most cases these aren't replacements for traditional solar panels, but rather a supplement.

These could be particularly useful on large skyscrapers