June 4, 2010- As the popularity of solar panels for energy generation, double- paned windows for energy efficiency, and natural lighting for aesthetic purposes increases, one company succeeded in combining all three qualities into a single product. Pythagoras Solar, a provider of advanced building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) products announced on May 18th their plans to commercialize the industry’s first energy efficient, transparent, and high power density photovoltaic glass unit (PVGU), also known as: a solar window.
The solar window, made of patent pending optics and high- efficiency crystalline silicon, has been designed using advanced materials science and simulation software to be easily integrated into conventional building construction. Pythagoras Solar PVGU products include: curtain walls, skylights and windows; all of which will simultaneously block solar radiation, concentrate sunlight and convert it into solar power, and deliver a high level of transparency for optimal day lighting and aesthetics. Future Pythagoras Solar products that will utilize BIPV technology include colored roof tiles and spandrels.
The key to the design is a plastic prism, placed on the outside of the glass unit, and the adhesive materials used, said company Vice President Udi Paret. "We manipulate the light with optics so the direct light gets onto the cell and the materials make the heat dissipate," he explained. The mirrors within the tiles concentrate the light onto the solar cells, which helps the glass unit produce as much electricity as a comparably sized solar panel placed on a flat roof.
Is it worth the investment and effort to engage in the process of generating electricity with photovoltaics for individual buildings? The answer is a resounding yes; with the combination of energy savings and energy generation provided by the PVGU, the product will pay for itself in less than five years. What’s more, Pythagoras Solar’s PVGU is designed to meet advanced building codes and standards, can be optimized for a variety of uses, and is expected to be eligible for incentives like tax credits and rebates due to its energy and environmental benefits.
The “green” contributions of PVGU and BIPV technology are groundbreaking, and will lead to more environmentally friendly building operations. Energy inefficient building operations account for up to 39 percent of the country’s total energy consumption and 70 percent of its power plant-generated electricity. Inefficient buildings can waste up to 34 percent of their energy. According to the United States Department of Energy, BIPV technology has the potential to generate up to half of the electricity needed in the country. Co-founder and CEO of Pythagoras Solar, Gonen Fink, hopes that PVGU technology will enable “the architecture, engineering and construction sectors to accelerate the deployment of cost-effective distributed power generation and to advance aesthetically pleasing net zero energy buildings.” Pythagoras Solar’s PVGU products will be available in the second half of 2010.
Research firm NanoMarkets forecasts that the global BIPV market will exceed $8 billion by 2015.Building integrated photovoltaic products and technology will be something to anticipate as it gains prominence in various industries worldwide. Especially with its implications on the building and construction industries, the innovative technology will open a functional, yet creative “window” for constructors to incorporate the Pythagoras Solar window as they please- with aesthetic appeal and convenience.