Solar Energy Technology Receives A More Visually-appealing Makeover
Those unsightly rooftop solar panels “” hailed as energy savers but often frowned upon as neighborhood eyesores “” may soon become a thing of the past, according to an article scheduled for the June 15 issue of Chemical & Engineering News, ACS’ weekly newsmagazine. It foresees a new generation of unobtrusive or even visually attractive solar panels that blend seamlessly into the architecture of homes and business.
C&EN senior business editor Melody Voith notes that scientists, engineers, and architects are developing new solar panels, including materials that resemble normal shingles and invisible solar films that can cover glass windows. There’s a rapidly growing demand for these so-called building-integrated photovoltaics, or BIPV, that blend solar technology into the overall building aesthetic. One estimate suggests that the market for BIPV will grow by 18 percent a year through 2014, with revenues of about $780 million, according to the article.
Japan and Europe are now the strongest markets for BIPV. Sales are just beginning to rise in the United States, especially in states like sunny California, which offers generous subsidies for solar power. But several hurdles stand in the way of further expansion of this new solar technology, including a need for more efficient solar cells and demand for more durable and cost-effective materials. Although buildings clad in nearly invisible solar cells are mostly visions of the future, government incentives and ongoing technology improvements could combine to make this dream a widespread reality, the article suggests.
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