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Solar Power Glass by XsunX

by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 10. 9.05
Science & Technology (alternative energy)

Power Glass by XsunXAn oddly named company, XsunX, based in California, is manufacturing "Power Glass", a technology that allows glass windows to produce electricity via solar energy. It began shipping Power Glass products this May (more details here). The company believes the cells will operate at half the efficiency of conventional solar cells but may have one quarter the cost. :: XsunX

Comments (8)

It may be worthwhile to note that when they say they expect
"half the efficiency of convential solar cells but yet may have one quarter of the cost" on this page, they are talking about "conventional opaque amorphous solar cells", which might mean amorphous silicon thin film cells like the ones that Uni-Solar makes. Based on one of their 'sell sheets', it looks like Uni-Solar products get about 5.9Wp/ft^2 (5.9 Watts per square foot of module area in full sunlight).
They might also mean cadmium telluride thin film solar cells like the ones First Solar makes. Based on this data sheet, it looks like they get about 8.4Wp/ft^2. For further comparison, the semi-crystalline silicon cells that RWE Schott Solar makes appear to get about 12Wp/ft^2, based on this spec sheet. I'm not sure about the relative retail costs of these modules, that's for another post or for another poster to dig up, perhaps.

jump to top Ike says:

The first half of the solar holy grail is BISPV (building integrated solar photovoltaics). If it's performance equals other glass envelope materials, and appearance is same or better (preferably way cooler) than competitive non SPV materials, price is less a determinant that the other Grail half: discovering what to do with the current the BIPV elements generate. There are numerous possibilities, and each has its' own costs. How you chose to expend the BIPV-made electricity determines the cost effectiveness: i.e. iof you run emergency lights and stairwell exit signs, the ROI is near zero as you are competing against a commodity. Selling back to the grid or running interior office space lighting sounds like the way to go, but DC lighting has incrementals costs above the traditional AC variety. Systems design is needed to take it the final yards.

jump to top John Laumer says:

The first half of the solar holy grail is BISPV (building integrated solar photovoltaics). If it's performance equals other glass envelope materials, and appearance is same or better (preferably way cooler) than competitive non SPV materials, price is less a determinant then the other Grail half will be: discovering what to do with the current the BIPV elements generate. There are numerous possibilities, and each has its' own costs. How you chose to expend the BIPV-made electricity determines the cost effectiveness: i.e. iof you run emergency lights and stairwell exit signs, the ROI is near zero as you are competing against a commodity. Selling back to the grid or running interior office space lighting sounds like the way to go, but DC lighting has incrementals costs above the traditional AC variety. Systems design is needed to take it the final yards.

jump to top John Laumer says:

I would like more info on your solar windows and if you have any othe solar pannals.My # is 267 981 1600

jump to top charlie krupa says:

That's wonderful news. Hopefully we'll be seeing more solar technology used in the mainstream: imagine partially self-sustaining skyscrapers! The potential is astounding!

Does any one know if this product is / will be available as a retro-fit for existing windows?

jump to top Jeff Franson says:

This technology is amazing over the next couple years it is going to change the way energy is consumed in skyscrappers all over the world. The film covered windows which look exactly like every other window when you look through it can produce 60 percent of all the energy consumed in the building. This saves 60 percent of the energy cost of the entire buildings energy. The company holds patents for its technology and is in the process of building a manufacturing plant. They are planing on marketing the product started this march 2006 and licensing it out. This company has and amazing plan and huge growth in the future.

jump to top Zack says:

This technology is amazing over the next couple years it is going to change the way energy is consumed in skyscrappers all over the world. The film covered windows which look exactly like every other window when you look through it can produce 60 percent of all the energy consumed in the building. This saves 60 percent of the energy cost of the entire buildings energy. The company holds patents for its technology and is in the process of building a manufacturing plant. They are planing on marketing the product started this march 2006 and licensing it out. This company has and amazing plan and huge growth in the future.

jump to top Zack says:
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