If builders could start focusing on renewable energy and harvesting it into the siding of a building, the amount of energy from the grid that a structure would need may significantly decrease.
In research published recently in Renewable Energy, Diana-Andra Borca-Tasciuc, a professor of mechanical, aerospace, and nuclear engineering, along with his team of researchers from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, demonstrated the potential of wedge-shaped luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs). These efficient modular solar units could easily be hung on the side of a building.
What LSCs are made up of?
The LSCs used in this
study are made of transparent plastic with a film of photo luminescent
particles on the back, similar to those used in LEDS. Solar cells mounted on
the larger edge of the LSC convert energy captured from the sun into electric
power.
Previously, this
unique shape and construction had only shown promise in theory. In this
research, the team took that a step further and tested how these LSCs could
function within the lab. The way these devices capture and concentrate sunlight
enhances the power that is produced by each unit of surface area within a solar
cell.
The team is now
looking to optimize the shape of the LSC and is exploring ways it could engineer
surface properties to more efficiently capture and retain the light entering
the device.
The researchers also
used light data from the field to help predict annual energy production if the
LSCs were to be hung on walls. Based on data from Albany, New York, and
Phoenix, Arizona, the annual energy production predicted for these devices was
up to 40% more than the annual energy produced by solar panels, when both are
installed vertically.
According to Borca-Tasciuc,
this technology is not meant to replace solar panels, it expands the capacity
to efficiently harvest solar energy in the built environment. It works well for
vertical wall applications where a solar panel does not perform as well.
Moreover, Duncan
Smith, a doctoral student in mechanical engineering at Rensselaer said, “As the
world transitions toward carbon neutrality, using vertical surfaces effectively
for solar power harvesting will be a necessity for the solar industry.”
"Particularly in
urban settings, the roof area of taller buildings is usually dedicated to HVAC
equipment and cannot be used for solar panel installations. In these same
buildings, however, there is extra room on the walls."
The research team also worked with undergraduate students who were completing a capstone project through the Multidisciplinary Research Laboratory at Rensselaer, a space that provides real-world experiences for students in preparation for their future careers.
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