The Groundbreaking New Product That Turns Regular Windows Into Solar Panels

Sunwarmed surfaces, sometimes too hot to touch, give us everyday evidence of the energy put out by our nearest star. Directing that energy into electricity production is nothing short of miraculous. This feat usually relies on massive panels installed on roofs or ground-based structures that are cumbersome, expensive, and not renter-friendly at all. Scientists out of China's Nanjing University have developed a coating for windows that harnesses solar energy while still allowing a clear, color-true view through the glass.

The name for this type of solar energy harness is a "colorless and unidirectional diffractive-type solar concentrator" (CUSC), per Science Alert. While most of the sunlight is still allowed through the film, the energy from some of the rays are diverted into photovoltaic cells housed along the sides of the window. The team out of Nanjing has succeeded in building a working model of this solar energy capture device that outperforms earlier attempts with slightly different methods. Although it's still in its early stages, the scientists are thrilled at the potential. As of now, their prototype is a 1-inch model that's able to power a small fan. That might seem like small potatoes, but once it's sized up to fit a window, the potential electricity generated is definitely worth pursuing.

CUSC-based window coatings aren't the first of their kind. Similar technology has existed for a while, but older versions weren't as efficient or unobtrusive as this new development. Earlier attempts, called luminescence solar concentrators, relied on a similar concept. However, older models may be better at adding privacy to windows and doors than keeping the lights on; their surfaces weren't as transparent as consumers would likely want in windows, but also their efficiency and sizing capabilities left a lot to be desired.

Still, don't cancel any existing plans for installing solar panels yet. This product, while promising, is in its early stages. There's a considerable amount of tweaking needed before it's ready for consumers. However, the fact that the team's moved beyond planning to an actual working prototype inspires hope that we may be able to purchase a product using this process in the near future. It's difficult to know exactly where CUSC technology will lead, but it's not hard to imagine window coatings on every south and west-facing window in upcoming years. This advancement may even allow solar capture in rental spaces, making home solar power possible where it wasn't in the past.