In the past century, energy has been harnessed through various methods, from dams to wind, and through solar radiation. However, in a recent discovery, China has found a way to harness energy using our homes and buildings by inventing photovoltaic windows. With this incredible invention, China is pushing the boundaries of solar generation beyond rooftops and fields.

The new age of integrating renewable energies

For millennials, energy has become an essential factor in how well a community develops. Therefore, humans have become perpetually driven to harness energy that could make living easier. Through history, we can trace this pursuit from the craft of igniting fire with stones to the discovery of fossil fuels, which are non-renewable sources of energy.

In the 19th century, energy conversion began to shift towards renewable resources. This led to innovations like wind turbines, hydroelectric plants, and electrically induced magnets, among others. Now in the 21st century, the most prevalent renewable energy is solar power, and so far, it has reshaped the global landscape of harnessing energy.

Solar energy is harnessed by using photovoltaic (PV) panels. When mounted on rooftops or in a large-scale field, they can capture radiation that is then converted into electric energy. However, what had become a fast-growing renewable energy source was soon posing challenges for both engineers and in-demand customers.

China invests in photovoltaic windows despite solar challenges

Before we dive into this innovation, what are the challenges facing the solar energy industry? For the most part, solar panels were limited in their design and construction. Hence, they could only be mounted on rooftops or elevated stations. This led a team of Chinese researchers to develop what is known as a Colorless Unidirectional Solar Concentrator (CUSC).

This team of researchers was led by Dewei Zhang, PhD, from Nanjing University in the province of Jiangsu. They attempted to harness solar energy from transparent surfaces by engineering the structure of a cholesteric liquid crystal film. The aim was to create a system that selectively diffracted polarized light into the edges of a transparent glass.

When this colorless coating coincides with photovoltaic cells, it harvests sunlight through transparent surfaces. This generates a concentrated and clean diffraction of solar energy that surpasses conventional tinted panels, like this innovative photovoltaic tree, powering homes. The highlight of this invention is its integration of housing windows into photovoltaic windows.

This innovation improved urban energy challenges

According to Zhang, photovoltaic windows reduce the energy consumed in conventional panels by 75%. Not only that, but the cluster of solar panels topping most urban homes easily ruins their architectural aesthetic. However, with these transparent photovoltaic windows, urban buildings can keep their aesthetic while generating efficient energy.

How China’s photovoltaic windows reshape the energy space

Without mincing words, the implication of this technology goes beyond harnessing energy. It spans sustainable energy goals, urban planning, and policies in the energy industry. For instance, as the world is clamoring to reduce carbon emissions and footprints, this innovation could become a potential solution, as it aligns with SDG goals to decarbonize the Earth.

In the case of urban planning, transparent photovoltaic windows help contribute to energy goals without compromising architectural designs and plans. Also, according to CUSC designers, this invention creates a solar system that is compatible with high-performing photovoltaic cells like gallium arsenide (GaAs). This is a semiconductor compound that increases overall conversion power.

A 6.5-foot window could generate 50 times more energy than conventional panels, leading to this debut power plant window by the U.S. Going forward, the team has announced plans to improve certain parts of the system. This includes the broadband efficiency and polarization. In the near future, most transparent surfaces that have been inactive will become active generators for solar energy.

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