Electrical energy a commodity we cannot live without. For decades the human civilisation has relied on the use of fossil fuels to power our cities and everything electrical. Fossil fuels are a non-renewable energy source that does more harm than good to the environment. A major issue has been brought to light in recent years. Some deny it and others debate it, global warming has and is an ever-present danger. It may not impact us severely in the short term, but the long-term effects will be unprecedented. In tackling the global energy issues, more governments have turned to using renewable energy sources such as hydropower and solar power.
Solar power has brought with it a change to the way we power our lives. Solar power relies solely on sunlight as the source of energy. It is the conversion of energy from sunlight into electricity; there are two ways this process can be achieved. The direct and more conventional approach would be to use photovoltaics (PV). The other more indirect approach is to concentrate the solar power with the help of lenses or mirrors and a tracking system to focus a large area of sunlight into a small beam. Focusing on the more direct approach PV, uses photovoltaic cells that convert light into an electrical current using a principle known as the photovoltaic effect.
Many homes and buildings across the world today employ the use of solar panels as a source of power as a more green and clean initiative towards a sustainable future.
As more countries and its government call upon the switch from the standard burning of fossil fuels to produce electricity to a cleaner, environmentally friendly approach of solar power, there grows a demand for the technology to be improved and integrated in more effective ways.
This brought on innovators such as Elon musk to think outside the box and develop what is called solar glass. The idea for solar glass is designed to replace the conventional solar panels as well as to replace building parts such as the roof, facades, skylines and windows; this is known as Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV). Replacing the solar panel with glass is also effectively changing the buildings aesthetics in a positive outlook. There are currently two main types of BIPV available while others are still being researched, developed and tested. The two types available are Thin-film modules and Colorless photovoltaic glass. Although solar glass is intended for big buildings and houses that cover a large surface area for sunlight during the day. Solar glass is also being integrated into electric vehicles acting as a power source as well as a recharging platform for the car’s batteries.
The concept behind the technology is like that of a solar panel. The idea is to convert sunlight into electrical energy. The photovoltaic glass contains transparent semiconductor-based photovoltaic cells, also known as solar cells. These silicon-based cells are sandwiched between two sheets of glass.
The glass made up of thin layers of silicon, a semi-conductive material, is given opposite charges. When sunlight hits the glass, electrons are knocked loose and move towards the treated front surface of the glass. This movement creates an electron imbalance between the front and back surfaces of the glass causing electricity to flow. A general rule of thumb, the higher the intensity of the light the greater the flow of electricity, hence why solar panels in general are ineffective at night.
The electricity generated by the solar glass is known as ‘green’ clean energy, producing 0% carbon emissions.
This is beneficial as we try to reduce our carbon footprint. In addition to the reduction of carbon emissions, energy costs will reduce furthermore, cities with solar glass technology incorporated into its infrastructure would lead to sustainable living as well as enhancing image and public relations worldwide.