Windows: the low-cost powerplant of the future?

Researchers are developing new technology that could turn windows into miniature power plants. Massachusetts Institute of Technology scientists have been working on photovoltaic cells which harness the energy of infrared […]

Researchers are developing new technology that could turn windows into miniature power plants.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology scientists have been working on photovoltaic cells which harness the energy of infrared light while allowing visible light to pass through.

Coated onto a pane of standard window glass, the technology could provide power for lights and other devices.

Although it is too early in the process to be able to estimate actual costs, researchers believe it could lower installation prices by taking advantage of existing window structures.

A paper describing the new system, by researchers Vladimir Bulović and Richard Lunt, has been published online in the journal Applied Physics Letters.

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