Solar Powered Shingles and More

Solar Powered Shingles and More

Your next roof may not actually be made of ceramic or asphalt tiles, but instead of energy-creating photovoltaics!  In Europe there has long been a trend in what is called building-integrated-photovoltaics (BIPV), in which solar-cells are integrated in to the design or materials of a building.  This technology has just begun to be applied in the US, and the future of BIPV is quite exciting. 

The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory recently made an announcement outlining flexible rooftop solar panels, made to replace the large, bulky panels that we currently see on roofs around the world. 

The research team is using the same technology currently used to wrap LCDs with protective coatings to potentially wrap solar-cells.  Interestingly enough, the research is focused on mass-production and bringing the cost of solar cells down to $1 per watt of power, which is very competitive for solar-cells. 

There have been a number of recent rumors surrounding another exciting technology, photovoltaic “paint” that can be applied to steel sheets used on the outside of buildings, potentially generating many gigawatts of electricity.  A few really good links to information about this exciting technology:

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2008/10/solar-paint-on-steel-could-generate-renewable-energy-soon-53714

http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/03/24/solar-power-without-a-solar-panel/