See-Through Solar Windows Turn Invisible Light Into Electricity

[@willcookmakeup]

Once this really kicks off, gets down on cost, and becomes easily accessible, it truly could be the biggest game changer in the renewable energy movement. Obviously converting all the currently existing windows in the world will take decades if not more, but it truly would negate the need for gas power. There are literally billions and billions of windows on earth.

[@elgracko]

If they could include an auto-tint, that'd be awesome!

[@MrNagless]

Hopefully it'll come to market soon Been waiting for tech like this for 10 years alongside with badeless wind energy and so on

[@lemau8458]

bladeless wind energy is fake. they still use blades, they're just hidden.

[@markorourke5901]

@@lemau8458 Yes but a big difference, short blades incorporated into the device 9 Not protruding) that can also be recycled, not like conventional wind farms' monstrous blades that can't be recycled and kill bird life. I get the difference.

[@lemau8458]

@@markorourke5901 tf are you talking about

[@markorourke5901]

@@lemau8458 ?

[@NeonKue]

Sorry Bladerunner 2049, you’ll have to wait a long time for this type of tech lol

[@ICDeadPeeps]

So instead of low-efficiency see-through solar windows, how about high-efficiency house sidings that looks like regular sidings?

[@sciencecompliance235]

Why not both?!

[@ICDeadPeeps]

@@sciencecompliance235 So I'm an econ nerd and one of the first things you learn in Economics is that all resources are limited. That being said, you want to maximize your limited resources to projects that's going to have the greatest impact. In today's world where our supply chain system is severely constrained, this concept is more important than ever.

[@sciencecompliance235]

@@ICDeadPeeps You have no basis for saying there is not enough bandwidth or resources to support this.

[@ICDeadPeeps]

@@sciencecompliance235 So you think we have infinite amount of funding, human capital (people with STEM background), time and material resources to pursue whatever projects without any regard for prioritization? Have you ever heard of cost benefit analysis?

[@EnclaveDesigns]

@@ICDeadPeeps Cities with a higher proportion of window surface area compared to opaque siding are ideal for the proliferation of photovoltaic windows. In their current state, these windows can generate enough electricity to meet up to 40% of a building's energy requirements and also assist in minimizing solar heat transfer, which reduces the reliance on HVAC systems. On another note, the materials needed to make these windows are abundant. For example, CIS quantum dots are affordable and scalable, with the ability to meet the needs of cities. We want to see both, we want to be able to utilize all surface areas to generate electricity. It's not one or the other.

[@rickycampbell9105]

I read about a company developing solar paint many years ago, Whatever happen to that technology?

[@randomshorts739]

Being released next year

[@lidar37]

Solar windows could be used to charge vehicle batteries. This could prevent stranded vehicles in various scenarios including gas and electric vehicles that are parked for long periods of time.

[@claudiaclaudia936]

Go electric means short travel (THEY DONT WANT U MOBILE) KILL GAS KILL DIESEL 🤔WHY??

[@lidar37]

@@claudiaclaudia936 The original post was meant for any vehicle that uses batteries for any reason. While currently having lower efficiency than standard solar cells, this proposed use has the potential to, for example, keep batteries trickle charged when parked long term at airports, or whenever buses are parked over the holidays. The more windows used, the greater the charge capabilities and possible extension of range when alternator fails. Snow cover could still be a challenge to overcome, but the potential benefits are only limited by the creative imagination of the manufacturer and the users.

[@sherrimoquin5553]

How exactly does solar windows charge a battery for a car?

[@lidar37]

@@sherrimoquin5553 In the video, he spoke on how solar windows have an electrical connection to wires going to charge batteries. I'd suggest that they go through a charge controller to regulate current flow so that the batteries wouldn't be overcharged after reaching full capacity.

[@sherrimoquin5553]

@lidar37 oh that's how it does it and who's he and besides it was a female that did the video

[@brassringbarbara]

Canada, British Columbia needs this.

[@MichaelSkinner-e9j]

I had seen something like this over 10 or 20 years ago, except the power generation was in the framing of the window. They had light guides that transmitted some of the light perpendicular into the sides.

[@mnlna]

The sauletech from Poland created inkjet-printing perovskite solar cell and based on this the Building Integrated photovoltaics already on the market in Europe.

[@stephentroake7155]

Windows kill a lot of birds, because present-day windows look transparent to them. However, birds can see ultraviolet. If these new windows are opaque to UV rays, or have patterns in the UV spectrum which would make them visible to birds, I imagine bird strikes would be greatly reduced. Win-win windows!

[@sanjuansteve]

Can this film be applied to existing windows as well? Thx

[@bazoo513]

It would be nice if you devoted more than just a nebulous "nanometer thick coating" to the actual technology employed.

[@davetek490]

How much current can a nanometer thick coating carry? ::crickets::

[@josephregallis3394]

Anything that might lower our cost for power is a good thing!

[@markfinley3703]

I have a south-facing garage door. That would be a fantastic place to put solar panels.

[@johnevans6399]

Here in the UK we would be able to benefit from this for nearly 3 or 4 days per year. 🌦️

[@ransom182]

That's not how it works.

[@JJs_playground]

Lol... Remember UV rays penetrate clouds.

[@Mububban23]

@@JJs_playground OP can’t remember something he never understood in the first place…

[@madpuppet666]

Not sure it needs to be invisible. Tinted glass where the tinting is because its catching visible light for energy might be useful...

[@Orion2525]

Imagine the sticker shock to the parents of the neighborhood kids errant baseball going into your solar window

[@richardh8082]

We are barely putting standard solar on our buildings at the moment so we seriously need to ramp up immidiately

[@SSS-mp8th]

solar glass on the Aptera would be awesome.

[@bige8549]

More info is needed here. Can it be applied to existing windows, what about the angle, what about curved glass, does it work in low light, and more…

[@markfinley3703]

How long until it is actually available, and how much per square foot of window?

[@mnlna]

Nice tech. How soon can we get this in UK

[@Karen-t1y6p]

Perhaps this solar energy window could be applicable to the automotive industry? Swimming pools? And much more. It sounds quite exciting! ( My initial interest was aesthetics.)

[@davekent20]

The problem about solar power is we do not have Sun for three weeks and then one day sun three weeks no sun

[@janagavishnuponnusamy5707]

Sticking Big black.... Solar panels 😅😅 uff that ws a close one..🤣🤣lol my mind though 😂

[@adrees]

I hope it absorbs both UVA & UVB as well as IR cuz that would help from skin damage as well as save on cooling costs by cutting down on heat energy coming in during summer.

[@johntheux9238]

5-10% of UV and infrared light or 5-10% of the whole spectrum including visible light? Because that's the issue with see-through solar panels, the advertised efficiency is usually relative to the light that is absorbed.

[@Holy_Frijole]

Besides upfront costs are there any other tradeoffs? Seems cool.

[@jeffbarron5500]

Will the polarization of tempered glass have any effect and is the coating a post coating (a soft-coat requiring encasing). Maybe tempering is not even in the pic yet. Maybe ion generator instead

[@constantinst3189]

Is there a stock you can buy for this?

[@JogBird]

lots of hyperbole.. MAGIC.. this is more of an ad.. how about some in depth facts about the science behind it instead of some investor promo

[@jettivonaviska]

This is CNET, not Modern Engineering

[@sciencecompliance235]

@@bh2o If the cost is low enough, 5% efficiency is still worth it. If "installing" these panels is like buying a can of spray paint and spraying your windows, even a small amount of energy is worth the trip down to the hardware store. I'm sure the cost is currently way more than that and obviously the complexity higher, too, but there's still some food for thought for you. The windows would otherwise be doing nothing to generate power, so you are just making an unproductive surface productive. If the cost were zero for this tech, you'd want to coat nearly everything in it you could because 5% is still better than 0.

[@100x35Vlogs]

This should go on the roof of vehicles that can take better angle of solar than a squared home or building.

[@brettmashado]

ClearVue Technologies Limited also are a solar glass company

[@marcpiedagnel6168]

It juste capture the infrareds that would be heating the inside of the building but with some energy loss

[@robhaitch5544]

Seems this gets invented every year but never reaches consumers. Too many issues to overcome

[@omaramoodi3057]

Be interested to know if the Aptera Solar Vehicle could benefit from this.

[@craigmerkey8518]

Cool! Now I'm on here to read all the spontaneous experts on solar technology! 🤔

[@TheSolarGuyJK]

These glasses make much more sense of used as a glass finish on top of traditional solar panels 5% + 21% puts traditional solar panels to 26% which is a much better product putting energy density in context

[@TheSolarGuyJK]

Also, windows don’t face the sun that many times a day

[@electro_sykes]

bro I came up with the idea of Solar Panelled windows on office buildings back in 2020 for a school project. And I was only in Grade 6 at the time. I was inspired by the sun reflecting of the office towers in the CBD.

[@eternalbalance7703]

Ubiquitous needs to partner with Tesla. I would love this on the cybertruck.

[@Jttw2131]

Back to the drawing board for aptera.

[@tianschoeman5963]

I don't know.. I mean yes maby on high rise building where the windows are in the sun most of the day... But on homes not so sure it will beat rooftop panels. And I think windows that are in the sun most the day will let in a lot of heat so air-conditioning will be a must in really hot places.. so it will help but maby not as much as it seem to... maby I am wrong

[@dcvariousvids8082]

First time I’ve heard opening a window, as being mechanised venting.

[@donkey7577]

That invisible house for sale just recently could use this ......

[@dhoffman4955]

Does it block infrared light from entering the building?

[@leenonolee4629]

A "carbon footprint" is a necessary part of life. At the present time C02 in the atmosphere is lower than it has been. AND C02 is literally plantfood. OTOH having solar panels on the roof (where they are the roof) and in windows is a great idea as it allows the user to cut out electricity providers who are charging us through the nose!

[@chicago9458]

All CNET employees doing product reviews could have been the MKBHD if they had the foresight and they unplugged from the daily grind and dependency on salary jobs at CNET. It’s fascinating to see individual KZbinrs are much much bigger than the dinosaurs of this tech review pioneers. I went through college watching CNET for anything tech. Someone like Brian Tong could have been a 20M sub channel by now if he was independent. Even CNET itself was sooooo late in the game

[@jamesamy1963]

how much power do they generate being that they are only 5% efficient

[@jockaud]

Put it everywhere possible!

[@itzelouise8714]

Does that alter the light spectrum?

[@joesackbaron]

A polished product, even if it is a pane to install. I'm grateful for their transparency. A window into the future. Seems like an open shut case. Smashing idea. Looks like they've cracked it.

[@byrnc927]

And nuclear fusion power is right around the corner...

[@cusman]

30-40% more expensive glass with a 10-year payback period is going to be a challenge. I wonder if those calculations are for the 5% efficiency they are at today. Would a 10% efficiency variant at similar 30-40% more expensive glass have a 5-year payback period? If so, they may achieve their vision of putting solar power generation in pretty much any new building that will have glassed exteriors.

[@phizz8694]

More interested in how this tech works right now. Everything just sounds like fluff.

[@whilebeingjezebel]

Do they deter birds, though?

[@tkjho]

5% efficiency - 5% of the whole light spectrum or 5% of the UV and IR portions?

[@dannydaw59]

It's 5% of the total solar energy.

[@nkstorm4]

Reliability?

[@raj58277]

Still need fuel and gas to manufacture the pannels

[@sciencecompliance235]

Currently. Circular logic right there.

[@dannydaw59]

Half as efficient and 30 to 40% more expensive. The tax breaks are the same. Traditional solar panels are over 20% efficient now not less.

[@onzah3515]

Big black?

[@karenromero1703]

What about Solar Window Technology company? Don’t they have patent on their coating that produces electricity?

[@Anthony-dj4nd]

Sounds more expensive than regular window

[@discojelly]

It is. But if it was supplied by the utility company , like solar panels have been for years, to cut back on out put by the electricity company then small price would be worth it. My family member had solar power put on her house here in Texas with NO COST. She saved a bunch and it put less stress on our electrical state grid. Why would I like regular windows if they don't save me utility money?

[@rodborst1982]

WILL THIS TECHNOLOGY WORK WITH POLYCARBONATE WINDOWS?

[@FreekHoekstra]

I mean this is cute, but windows are typically a net loss for energy, having a better insulated window will save you 100 times more energy than what this will generate.

[@dibakarray5442]

Awesome.

[@LeeroyyyyyJenkinssssss]

They should partner up with Tesla.

[@HeyButWhy]

Maybe its an overkill to think but if the mindset of humans was to change towards leaving their car out in the sun to extract every beam of sunlight then would this potentially result in car manufacturers and car paint manufacturers needing to redesign their own products that result in a goldrush of new patent-chasing?

[@zero11010]

I didn’t hear any numbers on efficiency. You do mention that they need to be in the right orientation. None of the windows on a building (except maybe a skylight) are really facing the right direction. A solar panel is only efficient when it’s at a 90 degree angle to the sun. On solar farms all of the solar panels move to track the sun for this reason. With a home set up that doesn’t move it’s really only a few minutes a day where they produce good power. Replacing all the windows on a sky scrapper may not produce very much energy. And, imagine the cost! Currently, solar panels stop being effective after a few years (I think it’s about a decade, anyone is welcome to provide numbers but they don’t get recycled easily and the frequent need for replacement is an issue for them) how often would you need to replace every one of these windows on a building? Would you ONLY replace the eastern and western windows? Is there any real benefit to replacing the northern and southern windows?

[@sciencecompliance235]

The point isn't to maximize energy produced. The point is to take something that currently doesn't generate electricity and make it do that. It doesn't have to operate at optimal efficiency to still be useful. Also, static solar panels most commonly face southward in the northern hemisphere (not east or west), due to that being the direction the sun is most of the time.

[@zero11010]

@@sciencecompliance235 I get that. And, I think you’re right. But, you need to consider the cost and the benefit. It’s going to cost WAY more than regular glass. You wont be able to dispose of it the same way. You wont be able to recycle it the same way. And what kinds of benefits will you see from it? I don’t recall the name of the top of my head but there was a niche luxury sports car 15 years ago that put a solar cell on the roof. That cell did nothing. I think it was reported that it would effectively power the dome light (a solar cell that requires the sun would power a minor light inside the car so you can see while the sun is shining on your car). I haven’t I idea what the difference in cost is between these and regular glass. Let’s assume no one upgrades. Let’s assume just new buildings get it. This is going to cost a phenomenal amount of money and … for what? To say you have it? This feels like flying car nonsense. This isn’t going to go anywhere.

[@sciencecompliance235]

@@zero11010 It is a coating on the glass. Lots of windows already have coatings. I have no idea how much this would cost, but obviously you would have to balance that with the cost of the energy these produce. You say things with certainty that you have no numbers to verify your claims. Conceptually, there is nothing wrong with the idea. The viability comes down to numbers, which, again, neither you or I know.

[@dannydaw59]

My Sunpower panels have a 25 year warranty that promises no more than a .5% loss per year.

[@Beauty.and.FashionPhotographer]

This has been around for years...not news at all .... did any further progress happen this time ?

[@jogurcik13]

A compaby from poland has done that before

[@Nirdian]

whats the name of the company? 🙏

[@mnlna]

@@Nirdian The sauletech from Poland has created the BIP Building Integrated Photovoltaics based on perovskite tech.

[@mahnamahna3252]

Different than Solar Window?

[@building_keevo]

I think upping the efficiency of solar panels should take priority over vanity projects... It's really no different from making a Nokia 5110 out of some exotic material instead of evolving its usability.

[@StevenSkoczen]

"upping the efficiency of normal solar panels" is surprisingly non-trivial. The reason they're at 20% is that physics makes it pretty darn hard to get much higher. Tons of R&D money is going into that anyway. This isn't a zero-sum game. We can have both. The more renewable energy, and the more diverse ways it can be implemented, the better. Can you cover the sides of skyscraper with solar panels, and still let people see out? No? Right. This is a great idea.

[@building_keevo]

@@StevenSkoczen The fact that it's hard to increase solar panels' efficiency is the exact reason why we should not be diverting funding to fancy dresses. So it won't be hard. This is just another silly flash in the pan tech that'll hopefully fizzle out in the next few years so real problems can be solved. Remember magic tiles with mini electricity generators embedded in them? It's in that category. Or roads that can wirelessle charge EVs as they drive. Same category as well.

[@sciencecompliance235]

I don't see why this is a vanity project. You have something that currently lets light pass through. Now you can have light pass through and generate power. The energy is already there, why not capitalize on it? This is just a more efficient use of surface area that is currently being taken up by something not generating electricity.

[@building_keevo]

@@sciencecompliance235 I think you completely misunderstood everything I said. Just try again, give it another read.

[@Hatredkopter666]

And the wiring? Smells like Solar Roads to me.

[@harrickvharrick3957]

Except for the fact that Florida University is studying the possibilities and they would be promising to add to all those windows I believe I did not learn any other fact from watching this?

[@Hendragorden]

Waaaw,kereen,cara menghemat listrik

[@wisanu99]

This isn’t going anywhere. Windows are at an angel that don’t really perpendicular to the sun ray. And there are obstacles like trees, awnings, etc. and 5-10% conversion? Forget about it.

[@pinBin25]

Amazing!

[@SeaQuest305]

At least hail won't get them good ideals

[@yigalhassid7686]

Love it

[@Ktmfan450]

I hate having solar panels on my roof They take up so much space that I could be using for ........

[@syedmahiuddin5262]

For what

[@fuzedcable5612]

Smart window…?

[@cranberriesdoodle1450]

Take up space on your roof? Who cares!

[@amirmograbi]

This MAAAY make sense after you coat the rest of the exterior walls with solar panels. Otherwise it’s stupid. In the case of regular homes that is.

[@dpharr100]

Will not scale. To expensive

[@chicago9458]

WTF

[@UhhhhhnooOOo00oO]

What about if they cost rhe same or near "normal" windows. What BS. Oh, those squirrels on the roof hate those black panels. My roof might be ugly to birds and helicopters. Notice how they are 5% compared to 20%. Who cares if they are clear? Rhetorical. For a skyscraper.....maybe. to make up the return on a commercial level. Additional to solar roof panels. I'd rather humans not waste more and give the extra money to lessen waste, rather than pretty windows. (Cars already have solar roof panels.)

[@howahigh]

While red states taking rights

[@chilam2512]

Another scam, all these bs without showing a working demo.

[@SequoiaElisabeth]

In the coming age of AI, I see many applications for this tech. Smart windows are just the beginning.

[@sciencecompliance235]

Not sure what this has to do with AI. The algorithms that control "smart" windows are comically simple compared to what advanced AI can do.

[@RJASenden]

Are we sure this is not another Theranos?

[@TheJ1s]

So far the few family members that does have solar panels on their roof are costing more than their monthly bill because disconnected issues and hard to get knowledgeable professionals for help. They might have to find solutions KZbin to try to do it themselves.

[@ShakilShahadat]

This is not new at all. The efficiency is even less than standard solar panels.

[@miketsai75]

Recursive logic! We need IR heat and UV health to pass through! Otherwise need more electric power to warm the room. Fart on pant off!!

[@sciencecompliance235]

As I understand it, windows are typically big areas of heat LOSS in a building. Also, structures in some parts of the world need cooling more than heating.

[@miketsai75]

@@sciencecompliance235 Don’t you know that taking out the IR and distorting the UV A/B spectrum balance will harm health? Plain glass already distorting UV A/B spectrum. Now with your device even more so!

[@LM-128]

🎊👏🏽🥳🌠💫🌟✨✨🎊