Paint-on solar panels

In the race to make solar photo-voltaics (PV) an economically viable source of alternative energy, conventional cells built on silicon wafers may soon have to step aside. Researchers in the UK are devising ways of producing PV films that can be painted onto the side of buildings, which would not only offer a cheaper alternative, but that might also be more suited to less than ideal weather conditions.

The paint is comprised of four layers and contains dyes that absorb across the visible light spectrum, and the researchers claim that it is able to generate electricity even in low light conditions. This suggests that a passive system made up of the exterior surfaces of buildings could generate electricity throughout the daylight hours and regardless of the incident angle of the sunlight.

The partnership of UK universities is currently working with the steel industry to develop this technique into a commercial product, by laying the paint down on sheet steel which can then be used to clad the outside of buildings. The idea is that the paint would be applied to the surface of the steel as a part of its manufacturing process.

To read more about this ongoing research, follow the link below:

Solar Paint on Steel Could Generate Renewable Energy Soon