Every home has at least one window, so why not turn that window into an energy-attracting solar panel? So goes the thinking of Norwegian company EnSol, which has patented a spray-on film that turns windows into solar panels.
The spray-on film saps up solar energy because it’s made from metal nanoparticles, with the Professor of Nanotechnology at Leicester University, Chris Binns, explaining that “some light has to be absorbed in order to generate power but the windows would just have a slight tinting (though a transmission of only 8-10 per cent is common place for windows in the ‘sun belt’ areas of the world).”
Apparently, there’s hope that this spray-on film could even be applied to the actual building, as well as the windows. That’s hope for windowless residents, if ever I heard one.
Currently undergoing testing by both EnSol and the University of Leicester’s Physics and Astronomy department, the patent application has already been filed to get this innovative product to market by 2016. [EnSol via GizMag]
DR
Thursday, August 19, 2010 at 11:56 AMThink about how many windows there are in your average city. This could have an incredible impact if they could make it inexpensive and easy to apply. A shame they couldn’t get it out into the market a little sooner.
Thomas M.
Thursday, August 19, 2010 at 8:22 PMHI, Its all fine and dandy that they can develop such a product,it seem as though we just solve the energy crisis, to bad some company is going to buy up the patent rights, keep it under wraps and never let it see the light of day.And if it does get to the open market it won’t be cheap, a lot of money went into the development of this product,and as the story goes it all a matter of profit and loss.
Ha
Thursday, August 19, 2010 at 11:36 PMStick it on Apple stores!