Windows to become Manufacturers of Solar energy

                Glass as a Manufacturer of Solar Energy 




As the world moves forward towards eliminating oil, dealing with climate change, and improving solar energy, new innovations in the manufacture of glass are offering better opportunities for a cleaner world. 

From Germany, where solar technology has been pursued for years come technologies that are truly surprising and innovative. 

The following is from a recent article  called "4 Hidden Innovations in Glass " from Lead Innovation Management Gmbh written by Angela Hengsberger.

https://www.lead-innovation.com/english-blog/innovations-in-glass

  • "Sun protection glass has a metallic coating that does not keep out sunlight but retains up to 80 percent of the infrared heat rays. This prevents the rooms from heating up.
  • The thermochromic glazing has even better properties: The window keeps the heat out in summer, but lets the sun's heat through during the colder months of the year.
  • With dimmable glazing, a current flow discolors the glass so that it allows less solar energy to pass through. However, this "switchable" or electrochromic glass can not only be used for protection against the sun. It can also be converted from transparent to colored or milky by remote control. For example, it is suitable for meeting rooms in offices: At the touch of a button, the glass walls become opaque and protect against prying eyes.
  • Although Liquid Crystal works with polymer liquids, it can also be used in similar applications. The only difference is that window or door glass made of this material only becomes transparent under power and does not lose its translucency like electrochromic glass."
  • Also this 

                            Windows and facades as energy plants

" While intelligent glass regulates the amount of energy that it allows to pass from the outside into the interior, transparent solar cells turn window and glass fronts into entire power plants. 

For solar expert Richard Lunt, who is currently working on the development of a fully transparent solar cell at Michigan State University, this form of energy production could soon be able to cover a significant part of the power requirement.

 If the storage options were to be optimized, Lunt believes that the entire energy requirements of the USA could be covered by solar power in the future.

 In order to generate energy on the façade, a slightly older technology will be used at the Science Tower in Graz. The so-called "Grätzel cell" uses the principle of photosynthesis to generate energy. 

Although the glass façade is transparent, it is colored. The tower, which is to become the emblem of the Smart City Graz, is not yet completely finished. As a web-cam proves, the construction is already well advanced. However, there are other fascinating technologies to turn facades and windows into real power plants."

The future beckons with new ways of creating solar power through the use of glass as an energy generator. 

Article excerpts by Angela HENGSBERGER

https://www.lead-innovation.com/english-blog/innovations-in-glass

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