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Solar Windows Could Help Power Buildings
Lucas123 writes: Several companies are now beginning to roll out translucent photovoltaic films or solar cells embedded in windows that can supplement a significant amount of energy in the buildings where they're used. SolarWindow Technologies, for example, is preparing to launch a transparent product made with organic PVs, while another company, Solaria, is cutting solar cells into thin strips and embedding them in windows. Both companies admit their products can't produce the 20% efficiency ratings of today's best rooftop solar panels, but they say that's not their objective. Instead, the companies are looking to take advantage of millions of skyscraper windows that today are simply unused real estate for renewable energy. One company is aiming at supplementing 20% to 30% of a skyscrapers power requirements. Meanwhile, universities are also jumping into the solar window arena. Oxford University has spun off a PV window company that produces semi-transparent solar cells made of semi-transparent perovskite oxide that has achieved a 20% solar energy efficiency.
You're also no mathematician
Cities don't have anywhere near the solar density necessary to make a dent in their consumption. There's just barely enough in a neighborhood, but when you get to multi-story density, it's a hopeless gesture.
It gets even worse when you use thin-films which have waaaay less efficiency than crystalline panels.
And it gets even worse when you mount them on vertical surfaces like skyscraper windows.
And it gets even worse when you have thousands of distributed pieces of small electronics that all must be maintained, managed and the energy combined.
I loooove solar and I can tell you it's just NOT WORTH IT. Make a big field outside the city and send the power in. Everything is a waste of time or just for show.
A lot of people have emotional feelings like, "but it's all just going to waste in the city." But use your head: It's all just going to waste out in the desert too. So be wise and put efficient, dense PV where there's lots of sun. Don't put inefficient PV distributed around where there's weak sun.
It's like trying to write a letter with twenty light pencils. Just use one dark pencil.
More than 5 layers would be unsafe, since the windows would then be operating at 120% efficiency and arcing sweet, free electricity all over the place.
Eloi are stupid, throw morlocks at them!
The article talks about changing all the south facing windows in the office towers. It sounds great but in the city there's usually another tall building across the street blocking the sun so there's not much point in changing all of the windows. Maybe the ones near the top that does get the sun. I could see it being of more use in less dense areas but not in city centers.