Perovskite solar cells are contributing to the see-through solar window field, providing the cooling benefits of tinted windows alongside the ability to generate electricity from window glass (cropped, courtesy of UCL).
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The global solar industry has been taking off like a rocket while relying primarily on silicon, a material first introduced back in 1954. Now a new wave of 21st century materials is poised to turbo-boost solar power into the next level, with perovskite solar cells front and center. Perovskites are inexpensive materials that can reduce the cost of solar cells while expanding the supply chain and opening up new windows of opportunity — literally, in the field of transparent or semi-transparent solarized window glass.
See-Through Solar Windows Are Coming For Your Fossil Fuels, Eventually
The dream of a see-through solar window is heady stuff. After all, windows are notorious for leaking energy out of buildings. Transforming them into clean power generating stations is a game-changer. However, the devil is in the details. Silicon is a mature technology but it faces limitations as applied to solarized windows. Advanced thin film materials are in the running, but the expense can be prohibitive. Ideally, a solar window lets in enough light to take advantage of daylight, while capturing and converting enough solar energy to justify the additional expense (see more see-through solar window background here).
