SolarWindow Technologies, Inc. (WNDW)

[TRUISM]

Liquid Electricity

This electricity generating technology is made from organic earth-abundant materials, making it different from the plant-based photosynthesis technologies, which create chemical energy. John A. Conklin, CEO and president of SWT, explained that when light hits the technology, the mobility of electrons is activated, and that electron movement is electricity.

The Columbia, Maryland-based company is focused on scaling up the technology for its product, SolarWindow, which is a transparent, electricity generating coating for glass and plastics being developed for tall towers and skyscrapers—to turn them into electricity generators. One day the technology could be applied to single-family homes across America.

The first working prototype, created in 2009, was a quarter of a grain of rice in size.

The company’s first working prototype, created in 2009, was a quarter of a grain of rice in size. Later prototypes grew incrementally in size to today’s largest at 1 foot by 1 foot.

The vision is to be able to generate renewable electricity through solar windows on all four sides of skyscrapers.

Conklin said SolarWindows can power a 50-story building, while it would take six to eight acres of land for a conventional solar panel array to power the same building. “From a big picture perspective that basically takes all of the area of Central Park away just for a few buildings,” he said.


SolarWindow is a transparent electricity generating coating for glass and plastics. (Courtesy of SolarWindow Technologies Inc.)


According to Conklin, the investment in SolarWindows for a 50-story building would be recovered after just one year of energy cost savings, compared to the six to eight years it takes for solar panels.

The solar window would be connected using the same wiring-based system as solar panels, but it would be connected in such a way that you don’t see wires coming from the modules.

The idea for getting the technology to market is to license it and the know-how to major glass manufacturers and fabricators around the world, who will bring the final product to fruition.

International energy expert, Peter Fox-Penner, a principal at economic and financial consulting firm The Brattle Group, said new solar products are a small fraction of the current energy supply, and that a large number of similar products exist, with more being invented.

“This technology fits in amongst many, many technologies that do similar things that are all going to be part of the landscape and all part of compliance with the Clean Power Plan,” he said, referring to the federal government’s plan for reducing carbon emissions.

Fox-Penner expects a gradual conversion to a largely renewable grid as more technologies are added in. He notes that regulatory rules are being rewritten so that it’s possible for utilities that run the power grid to make use of these new technologies.

Conklin is working to ensure that liquid electricity is among the choices, but said although there are similar technologies, they are still very different. He compared the liquid electricity technology to others that use dye sensitized solar cells, and another one that utilizes metals such as lead.

He said those technologies are being used for rooftop solar panels, but SolarWindow will be integrated into the building.



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