Developing an attractive solar panel

Whilst solar power is being touted as a renewable source of energy that can cutting carbon emissions all around the world, one major problem has been holding it back - cost and the fact that thousands are needed to generate serious amounts of power. This of course takes large areas of space, which like wind farms, are considered eye-sores.

However solar engineers at The Center for Architecture Science and Ecology (CASE) believe they have developed an "energy generating glazing" that is capable of producing energy, whilst remaining easy on the eye.

The system is made up of rows of pyramid-shaped glass receptors that follow the sun during the day in order to capture the light in a small photovoltaic cell. The futuristic set-up is, of course, efficient and cost effective making it an alluring prospect for those in cutting their energy bills as well as their emissions.

"Architecturally integrable"

According to CASE's website, the system can be "architecturally integrated into the facades and roof atria of buildings while still providing maximum outside views and diffuse daylight for the building users. These benefits are accomplished by miniaturizing and distributing the essential components of concentrating PV technology within the weather-sealed windows of the building envelopes."

As the panels are strung on wires with tracking mechanisms that turn the receptors, they can follow the direction of the sun throughout the day absorbing as much energy as possible. As they are made from glass, they also allow sunlight to pass through windows, maximizing the available daylight.

While the economic and environmental benefits are clear, another is that as they can be hung inside, the chances the panels can be damaged or become soiled is reduced, minimising the need to clean and maintain them.

An alternative approach is to place the components behind the external façade envelope and construct an inner surface to protect the mechanisms.

With the solar energy being converted into heat for domestic hot water, space heating, reducing solar gain by the building, and enhances interior day lighting quality, thus reducing overuse of artificial lighting, the concept is gaining a lot of support in the industry as well as online.

While the design is not yet commercially available, the product would benefit those areas in Europe blessed with sunlight, and for those who have their curiosity peaked, the cost return is rumoured to be less than two and a half years.

Watch a video of the design here.

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