MIT researchers develop window-tint solar concentrators

No, the blacked-out rear quarters of your '90 CRX aren't going to start powering your hooptywoofer anytime soon, but a new window treatment developed at MIT that functions as a solar concentrator promises to finally bring solar windows to the masses. Based on similar work done in the '70s, the dye mixture pulls in light at a range of wavelengths and re-emits it to solar cells at the edges of the window at a different wavelength -- a technique good for a 40x increase in each cell's power output, or 10 times what current systems can provide. The team estimates that the panels could become widely commercial within three years -- just in time for us to bolt 'em onto our new solar shoe Prius.

[Via Metaefficient and TechNewsWorld]

[tom @ Jul 16th 2008 8:56AM]

Solar powered cars are one step closer to reality. Who is laughing now, OPEC?

[innesm @ Jul 16th 2008 9:50AM]

You mean, battery powered cars, charged partly from huge solar farms out in the desert somewhere.

I think cars use roughly 5kw, which is something like 10 square metres-worth of _strong_ sunlight. And that's 100% efficiency.

(NB: all figures virtually made up)

[Arnie @ Jul 16th 2008 10:17AM]

So says the American who is in the top 10 per capita consumers in the world.

[silverplated @ Jul 17th 2008 3:44PM]

looks like isolinear chips from the big e :-)

[From My Cube @ Jul 16th 2008 8:58AM]

why do comments take so long to load now?


this comment systm is srs bzns

[OneLove @ Jul 16th 2008 11:03AM]

you have to post a comment/reply, hit F5,F5,F5...until you see it appear. Its really frustrating.

[thedesolate1 @ Jul 16th 2008 12:11PM]

Actually right before you comment you have to quickly hit Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A .

[blackfeather @ Jul 16th 2008 12:53PM]

Actually, right before you complain, you should hit ALT-F4.

[etechshop @ Jul 17th 2008 11:44AM]

To load comments quickly, do the following:

B, A, 1, 2, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Up, Down, 1, 2

[Oinquer @ Jul 16th 2008 9:12AM]

dont count on seeing this in 3 years...make it 5 or 7....lol

[Mike @ Jul 16th 2008 9:53AM]

its a dye/paint that basically goes over existing glass. And alls they need to do is make a window with mini solar-panel strips lining the inside of the frame where the glass hits it....which is simpler tech than you'd think

3 years is a generous amount of time....I expect that you could be preordering these in 2 years EASY

[Timmy @ Jul 16th 2008 9:17AM]

People who wear glasses can power their Zunes/ipods, sweet!

[Gaz @ Jul 16th 2008 11:09AM]

lol

[fistpittingnork @ Jul 16th 2008 9:47AM]

Now I miss my '90 CRX from a few years back.

[NHAnimator @ Jul 16th 2008 9:47AM]

Let's see, windows allow for heat and light to enter a room. Or.... We can make them solar so that they can generate electricity for things like, say, heat and light for a room.

(I know. I'm simplifying. But it's still a bit ironic.)

[j_g_puff @ Jul 16th 2008 9:48AM]

I'm going to build a solar RAVE!

[Ladderless @ Jul 16th 2008 9:49AM]

I know they mean solar power generation, but when I read that they will "Bring solar windows to the masses" I can't help but wonder... Haven't windows always been solar powered? - At least the ones that look to the outside?

[Pengadget @ Jul 16th 2008 9:54AM]

haha every time MIT happens to get something done it take 20 Years for it to be mass produced.

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Jul 16th 2008 12:10PM]

Solar cells are already over 2.5% efficient, so a 40x increase in efficiency is not possible.

Are they just saying that you get 40x the output per cell by virtue of the fact that the window acts as a larger collector than the cell would alone?

[randombloke @ Jul 18th 2008 9:49AM]

I think someone may be confusing an increase in collection efficiency with an increase in conversion efficiency. Not to mention that the ability to isolate particular wavelengths will reduce wastage as heat, effectivelt another form of efficiency increase.

[randombloke @ Jul 18th 2008 9:50AM]

I think someone may be confusing an increase in collection efficiency
with an increase in conversion efficiency. Not to mention that the
ability to isolate particular wavelengths will reduce wastage as
heat, effectivelt another form of efficiency increase.

[WindyCityEagle @ Jul 16th 2008 12:21PM]

Michael Currie(one of the researchers on the project) was a fraternity brother of mine, which I believe means I'm just a little bit smarter than I think I am.

But having read alot about this(since what he's doing is 100x cooler than what I'm doing), I can tell you that the breakthrough is really one of capital costs. The idea is, you'll be able to build a giant solar panel that is almost entirely plastic(which is cheap), and then line it with a thin bead of solar cells(which are expensive). This cuts installations costs dramatically so that we can actually start putting solar panels on our roofs without taking out a second mortgage.

[david gottlieb @ Jul 16th 2008 1:23PM]

Wouldn't this make much more sense in a building than in a car? There's a much greater possible market in new and retrofit building glass than in cars, according to my not-so-humble opinion.

[Nassim @ Jul 16th 2008 2:18PM]

Wouldn't it better for them to research on making roofs or the side walls of houses solar grabbers instead of the few square meters that the windows make. Imagine 10X or even up to 20 X the surface area.

[DrZoidberg @ Jul 16th 2008 4:07PM]

I can see where this is useful in automotive applications. Imagine you are driving in your 20?? Chevy Volt. You take said vehicle to work each morning, this job happens to be 21 miles from your home. OH NOES!!!1!111one. the volt only has a 40 mile EV range leaving 2 whole miles unaccounted for. Fear not eco concious commuter!! For your Volt was upgraded with solar windows this year and can provide a small charge when left in sunlight! You would still likely have aprox 40 miles EV range when used continuously, but i would imagine gaining a mile or two over several hours of direct sunlight could one day be possible with this. Now you can drive to work and back on EV power alone saving you precious green at the pump. I say awesome tech we need more neat stuff like this

[Ethan @ Jul 16th 2008 3:31PM]

Plus, they look cool.

[Trance-Addict @ Jul 16th 2008 5:31PM]

I wonder if mirror tint could be used to increase light collection?

[garfield @ Jul 18th 2008 12:47PM]

there are exciting times ahead for solar. one firm to keep an eye on are nanosolar. they are making solar cells that you basically paint onto your house. they are not quite there yet but are close. 99c per watt will not be far off methinks.

http://www.totalsolarenergy.co.uk

[ethana2 @ Jul 18th 2008 1:49PM]

Sounds like I want this to cover the back of my laptop screen with a tiny solar strip at the bottom...