When it comes to advanced renewable technology, especially for buildings, aesthetic design tends to fly out the window. However, thanks to an innovative company, that very window can now become powerful and aesthetic, as “rainbow” solar glass turns color into heat, whilst improving noise cancellation and enhancing efficiency. So, when it comes to your personal taste and design ideas, you will no longer be limited to just black and blue for efficient solar power, but will have a rainbow range to choose from.
No more black and blue
We have come a long way with solar technologies since its heyday, and yet, we still face profound challenges to integrating the technology into our daily lives. A traditional photovoltaic (PV) system typically requires significant installation space, whether it be on the ground or on a rooftop. In urban regions, traditional PVs are especially limited.
According to a report by ScienceDirect.com, while urban regions consume the most energy and would highly benefit from additional clean power, it is challenging to introduce traditional PV systems into urban life due to:
- Complex building collections
- Existing buildings were not built to accommodate heavy, space-consuming traditional PV systems
- Shading
- The shading from tall buildings/skyscrapers influences solar output and efficiency
- Limited space
- The dense layout of buildings significantly limits space
- Visually unpleasant
- Conventional PV designs are less focused on aesthetics
Fortunately, there is a pioneering solution to the problem, and it is called solar glass, which has gotten a “rainbow” makeover. Find out more below.
“Rainbow” solar glass turns color into heat
The latest innovation in building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs) is “rainbow” solar glass that turns color into heat, making us forget all about the aesthetic limitations of the plain old black and blue PVs. BIPVs are a revolutionary breakthrough in building power and design, as they address the challenges faced by traditional PV systems, especially in urban regions.
The great minds behind these solar glass PVs, Onyx Solar, have reimagined what the future of solar looks like, and it is bright and colorful, offering a palette of 16 colors. According to the company’s website, its R&D team spent two years researching and developing the company’s color portfolio, ensuring that the final chosen colors struck the correct balance between power output and aesthetics.
Advantages beyond aesthetic and efficiency
Onyx Solar offers two solar glass PV systems to choose from, namely crystalline silicon and amorphous silicon. The first offers advanced performance, boasting exceptionally high power output per square meter, and making it the best option for high-demand applications. The latter offers a balance between performance and versatility, and enhances natural daylighting while providing unobstructed views.
The advantages of Onyx Solar’s colorful solar glass PVs are mind-boggling, as they include:
- Saves power and money by
- Allowing entry of natural light
- Being able to block heat (radiation protection)
- Producing on-site clean solar energy
- Easy integration into facades and rooftops
- Fade-resistant colors
- Scratch-resistant colors
- Accoustic insulation
- Can be used for new construction or the renovation of existing structures
According to Onyx Solar, these colorful solar glass PVs improve the overall design experience, as their colors can be used to:
“integrate the PV seamlessly into the building envelope, or even to visually highlight specific architectural elements of the building envelope.”
A perfect example of the artistic effects that can be achieved with these colorful PVs is Hôtel Lou Calen’s skylight, which features blue, green, yellow, and red amorphous silicon PV glass. In conclusion, if you decide to live it up in the city, you now have the option beautifully integrate powerful colors into your building, as there will no longer be limitations to your design or solar output. What’s more, colorful solar panels are also arriving in America, proving that BIPVs are the future.
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