Solar Blog

For many years, home solar power has been the subject of a great deal of research, being a major player in helping families to live low carbon lifestyles. Over the course of the efforts, there have been many new emerging technologies.

Most of the work is concentrated on improving the efficacy of the fuel cells, though one of the most interesting lines of development is focussed towards harnessing windows to produce power, and thereby drive down the cost of solar panel installations.

One such product is a solar photovoltaic spray. The spray leaves a fine coating on the surface of the window, with active cells a quarter the size of a grain of rice, leaving them translucent. The team responsible at New Energy Technologies Inc., suggest an increased cost effectiveness of over 30%.

There are also a range of experimental solutions, working to use on infra red wavelengths. These could offer the perfect answer, as IR makes up more than 50% of the sun’s energy, and, is re-emitted by the Earth long after sunset.

Early research suggests effectiveness could be double existing silicone cell capacity, and would be viable in less southerly facing regions. One early progression has seen the Massachusetts Institute of Technology develop organic cells, again for use in windows, which allow light and heat to continue to pass through.

To be practical for households, there is still much to be done before any innovations will be brought to market. But the speed in which they are developing, will require all solar panel installers to stay in touch to offer the best packages to their customers.