After decades of research and development solar power still doesn't pencil out for many home and business owners. Could a thin, transparent solar cell invented by scientists at UCLA change that equation?
a transparent solar cell made out of plastic by a team of scientists lead by Yang Yang, a professor at UCLA and director of the Nano
Renewable Energy Center at California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI). As a result of their invention, notes Netburn, "In the future, solar panels will no longer be restricted to the roof. You'll be able to put them on your windows too."
According to Netburn, "There is a catch, of course: Transparent solar cells are not nearly
as efficient as opaque ones. Yang said that by solving the visibility
problem, 30% of a cell's energy-absorbing capability had to be
sacrificed."
What the cells lose in efficiency, they can hopefully make up for in economies of scale made possible by reduced cost and ease of installation. "The good news is that the process is very economical,
and the material can be fabricated as a liquid that can be sprayed on a
surface, much in the same way that car factories spray paint onto
automobiles."
The product may be ready for commercial use in 5 years.
FULL STORY: Transparent solar cells let windows generate electricity
California's Canal Solar Projects Aim to Conserve Resources and Expand Clean Energy
California’s Project Nexus has begun generating electricity from solar panels installed over irrigation canals, with researchers and state agencies exploring statewide expansion to conserve water and boost clean energy production.
California Leads in Solar Rooftops
A combination of state and local incentives and building code mandates has helped California far outpace other states in residential rooftop solar permits.
UCLA Will Build California’s First EV Charging Roadway
The ¾-mile segment will allow electric shuttles and buses to charge while driving.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.
MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.
Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie