Transparent solar panels are solar panels used to harness sunlight and generate electricity. The transparent solar panel is a technology that absorbs light that is invisible to the naked eye, including infrared wavelengths and specific types of UV light. Transparent solar panels allow visible light to pass through while absorbing some of the light human eyes cannot detect.
This means that a seemingly ordinary glass window could function as a photovoltaic cell to absorb light and produce electricity. Transparent solar panels hold the potential to bring immense change to the use of renewable energy sources in the future.
Types of Transparent Solar Panels
There are two broad categories of see-through solar panels:
Partially Transparent Solar Panels
These solar panels partially absorb light received, while the remaining passes through the panel. They are “partially transparent” (or “semitransparent”) solar panels because they don’t absorb and convert all of the non-visible sunlight to energy. Because they’re generally less expensive and more proven than fully transparent panels, semitransparent ones are often suitable for commercial use.
Fully Transparent Solar Panels
Solar panels are “fully transparent” when they absorb the majority of the non-visible sunlight that hits them and then convert it into energy. Despite the name, they’re fully clear, allowing visible sunlight through just like typical windows would. As a result of their transparency, they’re also potentially suited for use as touch screens, among other applications.
How Transparent Solar Panels Could Change Things
Aesthetic Value
Transparent solar panels are see-through and thin, making them easy to integrate into buildings. Because they aren’t visibly different from traditional windows, they don’t impact the aesthetics of your building. This means that they can potentially help you generate electricity for your building without changing its appearance.
Transparent panels also can impact the aesthetics of your building’s interior. Because they only absorb light that’s outside of the spectrum human eyes can see, they let normal sunlight through. As a result, they may be used not only to generate electricity but also to let natural light illuminate your building throughout the day.
Ideal for Urban Areas
Although transparent solar panels are technically less effective at generating electricity than their traditional counterparts, it’s easier to make them in larger formats. With more surface area to absorb sunlight and a larger panel overall to generate electricity, transparent panels can make up for that difference in efficiency.
As a result, they’re ideal for use in densely populated areas, as those larger panels are well suited to bigger buildings that get more light, as you’d find in areas with denser populations. They also can help save space in these crowded areas because they don’t require rooftop installation.
Added Flexibility
The materials involved in creating transparent panels are compatible with on surfaces other than just glass, as long as it’s see-through. This makes them easy to install in general, from integrating them into existing spaces like windowsills or roofs to using them on portable devices like cell phones.
As the technology for these panels progresses, manufacturers may be able to use them to create self-charging devices that could prevent users from needing to carry charging devices with them.
Transparent solar panels have enormous potential benefits, such as reducing the carbon footprint of buildings and transforming any surface into a solar panel. If you’re interested in exploring the benefits of solar energy, at GVEC Solar Services in South Central Texas, we offer a wide range of high-quality and affordable solar panels and battery storage solutions with professional installation services.
From installation and design services to solar panel maintenance, we want to give you the best solar services possible, so call us today!
