• : I'mnovation
    Imnovation
      • Startups
      • esp
      • eng
    • Energy
    • Construction
    • Water
    • dt Created with Sketch. Digital Transformation
    • st Created with Sketch. Science & Technology
    • Society
    • SUSCRÍBETE A NUESTRA RSS
      • Startups
      • esp
      • eng
  • Home
  • Energy
  • Solar glass, a window to the future of energy
Previous Next
  • Solar glass, a window to the future of energy

    Renewable energy is about to become a part of our daily lives, with a host of new power-generating surfaces such as windows or canopies

Human beings have always faced a paradox regarding energy – on the one hand it is all around us and in plentiful supply; on the other, it is a rather daunting task to release energy and move it around. For our early ancestors just lighting a fire was a challenging endeavour. Later on, the steam engine would help to transform heat into movement and electricity. In a way, efficiency in energy generation could be said to be a chief indicator of the technical development of any civilization. Renewable energy is the next big leap that has been taken by humankind in this area, with the ensuing decentralization of production that Jeremy Rifkin predicted a few years ago.      

Solar glass: a clean and transparent energy

Pause for just a moment and imagine a world where every object is connected to the internet, a world in which almost all surfaces can generate electricity. Such a future is fully feasible thanks to innovative technologies like photovoltaic glass, which is to the generation of electricity what the internet of things is to communication. The sort of revolution that will transform each individual into an energy prosumer, i.e. someone who both produces and consumes electricity. The first steps in this field are already being taken in the form of building-integrated photovoltaics, incorporated mainly in windows and skylights. A whole host of other options are, however, on the way – mobile phones with photovoltaic screens, or even street furniture (benches, canopies) that is able to top up batteries or which can power information screens. Indeed, one of the most radical propositions is probably solar roadways.


Solar glass technology makes use of a photovoltaic coating that can offer several degrees of transparency and that transforms solar power into electricity. One of the most advanced start-ups in this field is New Energy Technologies (USA), which has developed an almost invisible photovoltaic liquid that can be spread over any transparent surface. This is achieved by filtering ultraviolet and infrared radiation that is unseen by the human eye, using a Transparent Luminescent Solar Concentrator (TLSC). According to independent studies, this technology could pay for itself within a year. Industrial production will not begin until 2017 at the earliest, however.

 

“Photovoltaic glass might very well prove to be a game changer in the generation of energy”

Click&Tweet

Production of solar glass windows to generate energy

Nevertheless, there is a leading Spanish company developing this kind of technology as we speak. Born in 2009, Onyx Solar is based in the region of Avila, deep in the heartland of Spain. This has not prevented it from becoming a global player, and indeed a first-of-its-kind company. Onyx Solar currently has a branch in New York and has carried out over 70 projects in 25 countries, receiving 30 prestigious awards worldwide. Theirs was the first walkable solar pavement in the world, installed at George Washington University (Virginia).

Onyx Solar focuses on custom-made solutions for each project, and is currently producing highly transparent glass of different colors and sizes. These solar glass panels filter radiation, both ultraviolet (up to 99%) and infrared (up to 95%), giving protection from potentially harmful radiation, in addition to generating electricity and providing thermal insulation. A strong focus on ROI is another advantage of this technology.

Besides the photovoltaic pavement, the company provides other building solutions, such as photovoltaic curtain walls, skylights, canopies, parking lots and urban furniture. The latter is one of the most striking, as in the not-too-distant future we could sit down to rest on a bench while recharging our phone battery through a USB port.

 

Onyx Solar’s expertise and technologies come together in The Autonomous Office project, a European-funded initiative aiming to develop an energy-autonomous office building. Along similar lines, the Spanish firm has also joined the R2Cities European project, whose goal is to achieve net zero cities through solutions such as photovoltaic glass.


Together with photovoltaic graphene paint, photovoltaic glass might very well prove to be a game changer in the generation of energy. The vehicles of the future or—who knows?— the glasses you may be using to read this article, could someday quite soon be equipped with photovoltaic glass.

Sources: Extreme Tech, Yuba Solar, Xataka.  

  • Renewable energies
  • Solar glass
  • photovoltaic transparent glass
  • solar roadways
  • TLSC
  • urban furniture
  • Solar energy

Share on social media

{{CommentsCount}} Comments

Currently no one has commented on the news.
Be the first to leave a comment.

{{firstLevelComment.Name}}

{{firstLevelComment.DaysAgo}} days ago

{{firstLevelComment.Text}}

Answer

{{secondLevelComment.Name}}

{{secondLevelComment.DaysAgo}} days ago

{{secondLevelComment.Text}}

Write your comment

All fields are mandatory.

Name

Email address

Comments

250 max char.

Accept the information on data protection

You must accept the information on data protection

{{btnSendCommentText}}

Thank you for your comment

Information on data protection

In compliance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 on Data Protection and with other Data Protection regulations in force, you are hereby informed that your personal data shall be processed by Acciona, S.A. (hereinafter “ACCIONA”), whose identification data are as follows: Tax ID No. (NIF): A08001851, Address: Avenida de Europa, 18, Parque Empresarial de la Moraleja, 28108 in Alcobendas, Madrid, Tel. No.: +34 91 663 28 50, email: protecciondedatos@acciona.com, in order to address and manage your queries, requests, claims and suggestions, as well as to electronically send information regarding our products and services through the contact email address.

The consent given by users when they contact us comprises the legal grounds for processing the data.

The data shall be stored as long as the relationship is maintained and the elimination thereof is not requested, and in any case, never for more than twelve months.

In the event your request is not addressed to ACCIONA but to an entity belonging to the Acciona Group, such entity shall transmit the data to the Group company that can most efficiently address your request for information or a service. Accordingly, when these data are transferred such transfer may be international due to the fact that these companies are located in countries outside the European Union, in order to address the communication needs among the individuals that comprise the Group at the global level. (You can consult a list of Group companies at www.acciona.com/shareholders-investors/financial-information/annual-accounts/. By accepting the privacy terms, you consent to your data being transferred internationally in order for your request to be properly processed. Other data transfers are not anticipated, except where required by law.

The interested party can exercise their rights of portability and to access, correct, eliminate, restrict and oppose the processing of their data before Acciona, S.A. by addressing ACCIONA in writing at the Department of Data Protection located at Avenida de Europa, 18, 28108, in Alcobendas, Madrid or by sending an email to the following address: protecciondedatos@acciona.com. In either case, the interested party must enclose or attach a copy of their National ID (DNI) or other ID. Furthermore, at any time the interested party may withdraw the granted consent by contacting the aforementioned address and file a claim before the Supervisory Authority (the Spanish Data Protection Agency www.aepd.es).

You can find more information in our Privacy Policy on our website.

Subscribe to our newsletter

... and stay informed with the latest news on innovation.

Send me the newsletter
{{ btnSendText }}

Wrong email format

Accept the information on data protection

You must accept the information on data protection

YOU'RE JUST ONE STEP AWAY!

Please, confirm your subscription on the email we have sent you and your registration will be completed.

YOU ARE ALREADY SUBSCRIBED TO THE NEWSLETTER!

If you've missed our content, try checking your junk mailbox and add us to your address book so you can enjoy them without any problem.

Information on data protection

In compliance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 on Data Protection and with other Data Protection regulations in force, you are hereby informed that your personal data shall be processed by Acciona, S.A. (hereinafter “ACCIONA”), whose identification data are as follows: Tax ID No. (NIF): A08001851; Address: Avenida de Europa, 18, Parque Empresarial La Moraleja, 28108 in Alcobendas, Madrid; Tel. No.: +34 91 663 28 50; email: protecciondedatos@acciona.com. Your data shall be processed in order to send you information, through the subscription to our Newsletter through electronic means, regarding our latest technological innovation of ACCIONA´s initiative "I’MNOVATION #Hub", which aims to bring the general public main news, advances and curiosities of the innovation technology of all the companies that make up the ACCIONA Group.

 

The consent given by the data subject by indicating that they have read and accept this data protection information comprises the lawfulness of processing. The data provide is your email address. If you fails to provide the required data, the subscription Request cannot be satisfied. We may also process your satisfaction or preferences, if you voluntarily respond to surveys. Data shall be stored until the elimination is requested.

In order to carry out our purpose, we may give access to your data to service providers (such as technology service providers) who assist us in fulfilling this purpose. Some of its service providers, may be located outside of the European Economic Area in territories that do not offer a level of data protection that is comparable to that of the European Union. In such cases, we transfer User data with appropriate safeguards and always ensuring the security of the same.

 

The data subject can exercise their rights of portability and to access, correct, eliminate, restrict and oppose the processing of their data to Acciona, S.A. by writing the Department of Data Protection located at Avenida de Europa, 18, 28108, Parque Empresarial La Moraleja, in Alcobendas, Madrid or by sending an email to the following address: protecciondedatos@acciona.com. If we consider it necessary in order to be able to identify you, we may ask you for a copy of an identity document. Furthermore, at any time the data subject may withdraw the granted consent by contacting the aforementioned address and file a claim to the Supervisory Authority (Agencia Española de Protección de Datos www.aepd.es). You can also unsubscribe from the Newsletter communication.

 

For any further information you can visit the Privacy Police on the website https://www.acciona.com/privacy-policy/.

More about Energy

  • Energy

    Kirigami-inspired solar panels

    The ancient art is inspiring the design of solar cells so they can change shape to catch the sun

  • Energy

    This is how the first neighbourhood capable of self-generating its energy requirements will work

    This village, capable of generating its own lighting and food production, will be ready to be inhabited as of 2017

  • Energy

    Metal powders to replace fossil fuels

    Could metal be the clean fuel of the future? Possibly, now that researchers from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, and the European Space Agency (ESA) have reached an important milestone in the field.

Featured topics

Read the most discussed articles

  • Renewable energies
  • Sustainability
  • Solar energy
  • Innovation
  • Technology
  • Wind power
  • Electricity
  • Solar glass
  • aeronautics
  • Energías renovables
  • Roads
  • Investigation

Categories

  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Water
  • Digital Transformation
  • Science & Technology
  • Society

Featured topics

  • Innovation
  • Renewable energies
  • Sustainability
  • Technology
  • Water
  • Robots

Innovation is a change that introduces new features. The concept is generally used in the sense of inventions, new ideas, devices, methods and processes, and the application of improved solutions meeting fresh economic or societal requirements. Strictly speaking, however, ideas can only be termed “innovations” once they have imposed themselves as successful new products, services or procedures.

About us
Subscribe to our RSS
Imnovation
Acciona

An ACCIONA innovation initiative

  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Legal notice
  • Site map
  • Contact
  • ACCIONA's websites