The sun can be annoying. Many systems today have bulky fixtures that take up a lot of space and can be considered attractive, even to the point where some homeowner associations have banned them altogether.
But behind this reputation is not vanity, but also the use of space. In many cases, there is no way to connect the solar panels due to crowded appliances.
Panels can also be limited by their technological performance, which means that they must be installed in a position where they will receive direct sunlight, usually facing west for the strength of the afternoon sun.
This is where the innovative approach comes in.
“What would you do if you could incorporate solar technology into a product that would see the sun? asked Susan Stone, CEO of Startup Ubiquitous Energy. "It has a huge field of application. You can put sunshine in building materials because it's just paint."
unseen sun
With this in mind, Ubiquitous Energy has developed a unique, patented and transparent photovoltaic glass coating that uses solar energy to generate electricity. The new windows feature technology that looks like regular windows and also generates electricity.
When float glass is manufactured it is usually given a low emissivity (Low E) coating and the glass is then manufactured in double glazed units. With Ubiquitous Energy, everything happens the same way, with the same hardware, the same vendors and suppliers, but in addition to the Low-E layer, several layers have been added that have become invisible "solar panels". ".
To extend the reach of the technology, global window and door manufacturer Andersen has signed an agreement with Ubiquitous Energy to co-develop a line of energy-generating products through 2022.
Brandon Berg is senior vice president of research, development and innovation at Andersen and led the partnership initiative with Ubiquitous.
“We were able to leverage Andersen's strength, capabilities, supply chain, partners and customer base to bring this product to market,” he said. "We fabricated the first Andersen glass windows in November, which are now installed in a house above our R&D headquarters in Bayport, Minnesota. We use them to generate power, and they not only work, but they work very well."
To date, Andersen has manufactured nearly 20 windows using ubiquitous glass on standard production lines. The research on these windows consists of examining the differences between windows facing the four cardinal points and collecting data on how photovoltaic components trap parts of the sun's invisible light in ultraviolet and infrared light while letting the visible light. during
"The north windows are also a strong center," Berg said. "It's not as dynamic as other windows, but it's still iconic. We're trying to get data that owners can trust. We've put a little house on top of the building that we can all trust. staying connected and producing energy as advertised.”
The team also performed durability testing on the windows as a whole, much of the experience Andersen brought to the partnership.
“We assume they will be in place for 25 years,” says Berg. "We know how to make a product that can withstand all of these environmental conditions, something that has never been experienced before."
a work
It's easy for homeowners to overlook the impact windows and doors have on a home and focus solely on beauty and utility. But the effect on the overall design and performance of the house is not an issue. They take up a significant amount of real estate out of homes, and Berg notes that there has been a continued trend toward more glass in homes during the COVID era, which is in direct contrast to how homes have become more energy efficient.
“Windows are less energy efficient than insulated walls,” he says. "We're starting to see more energy-efficient products, and we want to see that, and opportunities for power generation."
Andersen motorized windows will produce approximately 50 watts per square foot of window area wherever they go, or are as efficient as ceiling mounted opaque panels.
Roof panels and windows are exposed to outside weather conditions, which Andersen says can offer a long legacy.
“For example, 10 years after our product was installed, the amount of air coming out of the window and its performance is unmatched by anyone in the industry,” says Berg. "If the glazing isn't working properly 10 years after installation, it could mean a lot to the world."
The partner studies the price models and estimates that the initial price will be around 30% higher than that of traditional glazing.
"It's important to remember that the buying decision isn't about skylights," says Stone. "The choice is really between traditional windows or electric windows."
challenge
Although technology offers unique opportunities to bring new features and benefits to the home, there are challenges. Starting with how to store energy, once it is accumulated, so that it can be used when it is most needed. Essentially, the energy must be transferred from the glass to the storage mechanism for later use.
One way around this is to push the functionality of windows, for example by using electricity for household needs such as cameras, lights and electric door locks or by activating other products that can be used with windows. windows where electricity is available. . The team developed a use case for the energy generated in the window itself, which would power a battery in the wall.
“Another trick is to extract energy from moving glass,” Berg explains, pointing to the sliding glass door. "We're also working on integrating the technology into something mobile, so we're looking at other industries to study it, but it's just a technical challenge that we can easily solve."
Another challenge is to disrupt trade and the jobs needed to adjust to an already tight labor market.
coming
Stone notes that the ingredients are ubiquitous energy specialty sauces, which means they don't care whether the product is glass or some other material. He is excited to be able to move on to other roofs and says the company is also working on a flexible underlayment for roofs.
The team also wanted a way to feed the electricity generated in the jar back into the grid, which is somewhat artificial with current technology.
Meanwhile, Berg continues to challenge the company on what to do with glass on the exterior of the home, other than just incorporating light. Andersen invests in researching and developing other ways to invest in windows, like B. Voice Control. To support WiFi signal and cellular signal.
It will be interesting to see where this goes or not.
