Engineering News Blog

Engineering News

Latest news of interest to engineers. Sourced from GlobalSpec's Engineering News

Previous in Blog: Camouflage Sheet Inspired by Octopus   Next in Blog: Could Diesels Be Poised for a US Comeback?
Close
Close
Close
7 comments
Rate Comments: Nested

Solar Energy That Doesn't Block The View

Posted August 20, 2014 1:12 PM

From Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily:

Researchers have developed a new type of solar concentrator that when placed over a window creates solar energy while allowing people to actually see through the window. It is called a transparent luminescent solar concentrator and can be used on buildings, cell phones and any other device that has a flat, clear surface.

Read the whole article

Reply

Interested in this topic? By joining CR4 you can "subscribe" to
this discussion and receive notification when new comments are added.

"Almost" Good Answers:

Check out these comments that don't yet have enough votes to be "official" good answers and, if you agree with them, vote them!
Guru

Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1869
Good Answers: 67
#1

Re: Solar Energy That Doesn't Block The View

08/20/2014 1:54 PM

They had me at "glowing infrared light."

Reply
Guru
Hobbies - DIY Welding - Don't Know What Made The Old Title Attractive... Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member United States - US - Statue of Liberty - 60 Year Member

Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Yellowstone Valley, in Big Sky Country
Posts: 7425
Good Answers: 295
#2
In reply to #1

Re: Solar Energy That Doesn't Block The View

08/20/2014 2:15 PM

They had me at "[it] creates solar energy..."

Pretty sure that [it] doesn't.

__________________
Semper Ubi Sub Ubi
Reply
Guru

Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1869
Good Answers: 67
#3
In reply to #2

Re: Solar Energy That Doesn't Block The View

08/20/2014 2:34 PM

I smell a Liberal Arts major. They smell like fries.

Reply Score 1 for Good Answer
Guru
Hobbies - DIY Welding - Don't Know What Made The Old Title Attractive... Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member United States - US - Statue of Liberty - 60 Year Member

Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Yellowstone Valley, in Big Sky Country
Posts: 7425
Good Answers: 295
#4
In reply to #3

Re: Solar Energy That Doesn't Block The View

08/20/2014 2:38 PM

...and (IIRC) they are an important source of protein.

__________________
Semper Ubi Sub Ubi
Reply
Guru

Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1869
Good Answers: 67
#5
In reply to #4

Re: Solar Energy That Doesn't Block The View

08/20/2014 3:03 PM

<splarf!!>

Reply
Guru
New Zealand - Member - Kiwi Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member Engineering Fields - Power Engineering - New Member Engineering Fields - Electrical Engineering - New Member

Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posts: 8777
Good Answers: 376
#6

Re: Solar Energy That Doesn't Block The View

08/20/2014 7:00 PM

Currently it is able to produce a solar conversion efficiency close to 1 percent, but noted they aim to reach efficiencies beyond 5 percent when fully optimized.

The costs in resources and energy would have to be low and the life high for this to be viable for wide scale use.

__________________
jack of all trades
Reply
Guru

Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 42355
Good Answers: 1693
#7

Re: Solar Energy That Doesn't Block The View

08/20/2014 8:41 PM

And, best of all, you can charge your flux capacitor with the "transparent luminescent solar concentrator module."

Slap some on the windows of your EV and drive cross-street with the energy produced after only 3 days in the sun.

Oh JOY.

Throw those cell phone chargers in the recycle bin.

Reply
Reply to Blog Entry 7 comments

"Almost" Good Answers:

Check out these comments that don't yet have enough votes to be "official" good answers and, if you agree with them, vote them!
Copy to Clipboard

Users who posted comments:

Doorman (2); europium mkII (3); jack of all trades (1); lyn (1)

Previous in Blog: Camouflage Sheet Inspired by Octopus   Next in Blog: Could Diesels Be Poised for a US Comeback?

Advertisement