New transparent solar PV glass has huge energy making potential

A building such as the Shard, centre, could generate 2,500MW/yr if fitted with Polysolar panels (photo: Julie May)

Polysolar glass panels, from Cambridge UK, are based on a range of thin-film PV technologies. One panel measuring 1,200mm by 600m can generate an average of 5kWh of power per month – equivalent to half an average home’s power consumption per day.

“The panels have already been installed in certain spots around the UK, for instance, in the first solar-powered bus shelter in Canary Wharf, London…...They have also been deployed in a domestic setting, having been installed as part of a garage roof and workshop in a trial that saw the panels meet the complete power needs of the owner’s home and electric car.”

“While not the first company to target windows capable of harvesting solar energy for commercial use, Polysolar believes it has cracked the problem of creating functional PV film that doesn’t distort, tint or dim natural light.” The company is looking for funding.

Read more at: Solar panel glass could turn skyscrapers into power stations. Power Technology, June 8, 2018.