On November 22nd, researchers from National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) They presented a new project where they develop improved methods that allow for evaluation the useful life of energy efficiency in windowsThis is taking into account that currently the largest Energy consumption and CO2 emissions come from buildings.
Therefore, the most viable way to solve this is to take advantage of all the glass windows that skyscrapers have and that makes them look more attractive so they can be used as photovoltaic solar cellsIf it is successfully developed, then it could not only be applied to the buildingsbut also to any housing, vehicles, premises and even mobile phone screens.
Using photovoltaic solar windows in skyscrapers would save 40% of energy
Look after planet Earth It has become everyone's obligation, and to achieve this, one of the main objectives is to... reduce greenhouse gases, which represents one of old challenges for human societyEspecially today, when the need for them is increasing. renewable energy sourcesTherefore, it is necessary to design new solutions that allow for this growth.
Because of this, they left solar panels which have been a great success to this day, but it's time to improve this technology and go a step further in accordance with global needs. That is why a group of NREL researchers They are studying the possibilities of create photovoltaic windows for implementation in skyscrapers.
While it is true, Around 70% of skyscrapers are built with glass windows, Therefore, taking advantage of it would be essential and, moreover, it would not be damaged. the exterior beauty of the buildingsThis is taking into account that it is one of the great attractions of these buildings to draw people in.
There is currently a great deal of interest in the application of this technology, and several countries are currently vying to be the first to implement it. innovative design in skyscrapersAmong them are the cities of New York, Doha, Singapore and Beijing among others.
So these structures will no longer just reflect beauty on the outside, but could also help to Generate renewable energy through transparent solar panels. If this is achieved, then only in the United States It could be reduce energy consumption by up to 40%, something very important.
Therefore, in this case it would be incorporated solar-powered generating systems, which will not alter in any way the visibility of the windowsFurthermore, the idea of all the engineers in charge of these projects in various parts of the world is to want to take advantage of and absorb some of the light through the glass.
It is also important to keep in mind that the idea of solar windows It began thanks to researcher Christopher Traversewho referred to this technology as a source capable of solving the major problems of energy capture worldwide. A study that was published through the Nature magazine in 2017.
At that time he indicated that an effective way to reduce global energy consumption, rd create invisible solar cells that would allow it to be introduced into the window panes without having to darken them and remove the visibility of people.
“These would selectively absorb ultraviolet and near-infrared light, allowing many surfaces to become solar collection arrays without affecting their aesthetics.”
Christopher Traverse, renewable energy researcher.
The truth is that several techniques already exist that allow you to achieve a transparent photovoltaic glass that is capable of generate energy through the liquid coatingsThis is applied through nanotechnology and other advanced techniques, thus preventing the loss of the functionality they have always had.
Thanks to this, it will be possible produce translucent windows that are capable of generating energyTherefore, this proposal has been refined every year, and that is how the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) dependent on United States Department of Energy, He is very close to achieving it.
“There are preconceived notions of what an energy-efficient building looks like, and it’s usually not very glazed and probably not very tall. We’ve discovered another way to create highly efficient buildings.”
Lance Wheeler, an NREL scientist specializing in integrating photovoltaic technology into windows
Engineering experts have stated that only in United States exist between 5.000 billion and 9.000 billion square meters of transparent windowsAll of them can be used as photovoltaic cells and thus generate around the 40% of energy.
Therefore, NREL engineers has a proposal to install solar panels in each of these windows to take advantage of the light and generate extra energy. These projects even plan to bring this improved technology to car windows, computer screens, and mobile devices in the future.
For now, it will still be some time before we see this technological advancement become a reality, but these projects are already planned and Photovoltaic cells can now be added to transparent glass.Therefore, it will only be a matter of time before we begin to see these buildings transformed into essential sources for capturing renewable energy worldwide.
A Window to the Future! NREL's breakthrough Switch Glaze technology changes color to block glare and reduce solar heating in buildings on sunny days, while also generating #SolarPower. Learn more about this breakthrough for our #energy future in video and https://t.co/0YtFuvT6Cd pic.twitter.com/R0A7TOd1Kk
— NREL (@NREL) November 6, 2020
Other forms of renewable energy that would help make cities more efficient
One of the biggest problems today for the planet Earth is energy consumptionwhich continues to grow as humanity's population increases. Therefore, we must seek a solution and begin to obtain renewable energy It is vital to saving the world from premature destruction.
That is why it is more than necessary to have other ways of to obtain renewable energy that helps create more efficient cities in this respectExamples of these are existing photovoltaic roads in Francewhich were created by the firm of Queue engineering which was the first to design this technology.
That's how it is, like Drives not only has it built these roads throughout Francia, but also in some areas of the United States and JapanHowever, despite being innovative, it raises many questions today, especially because some experts on the subject believe that Its horizontal position may not capture all of the sun's rays.
The best way for these The sun's rays are captured in an inclined position. Furthermore, it is believed that Traffic, dirt, and other debris can also interfere with it. But beyond these assumptions, it has become one of the most innovative ways to achieve renewable energy currently and is expected to continue being implemented in other countries.
Another technology that seeks to be commercialized worldwide is the piezoelectric, which is activated when some buttons are pressed Materials like quartz and energy flow through itSo both in Israel , the the United States Special pavements have been implemented for this purpose.
Therefore, at the moment that light or heavy cargo vehicles drive over them on the roads devices generate energy that is captured by a tankThe same has been implemented in special pavements for pedestrians, which are activated when they receive their weight.
Finally, we find the Energy cement and perhaps one of the most interesting inventions of all when it comes to achieving renewable energyOn this occasion, they have created this mixture with waste from power plants which is used for construction and in that way the structures would act as a battery.
The cement would be polymeric potassium compound (KGP), which would be cheaper than regular concrete and even capable of store electricityThis would allow the same houses or buildings to be able to provide energy to light poles manufactured with KGP so they could feed themselves to function all night.
“We have successfully demonstrated that KGP cement mixtures are capable of storing and releasing electrical energy without the need to add anything dangerous or expensive. It is an economical way to help planet Earth.”
Mohamed Saafi, professor at Lancaster University
