Taiwanese researchers have developed a silicon-based thin film solar module that can be used in heat insulation windows, admitting light and still functioning efficiently as a photovoltaic cell, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said Aug. 24.
An Industrial Technology Research Institute research team devoted three years to overcoming the low light-transmittance rate seen in traditional solar panels when they are used as windows. The new module transmits yellow light similar to that of indoor incandescent lamps, comfortable to the eye and rendering natural colors on objects, according to the MOEA’s Bureau of Energy.
The device is estimated to have a photoelectron conversion efficiency of 17 percent to 18 percent, officials said, and also absorbs the heat of sunshine, keeping indoor areas cool and reducing energy needs for air conditioning.
With an adjustable spectrum capacity, the module is suitable for use in windows and skylights, as well as in greenhouses or livestock barns with special lighting spectrum requirements.
According to MOEA statistics, in 2010 Taiwan’s photonics industry had a market value of NT$200 billion (US$6.89 billion), with converted electricity of 3 gigawatts, overtaking Japan as the world’s second largest solar energy developer after mainland China.
In related news, the MOEA has commissioned National Cheng Kung University in southern Taiwan’s Tainan City to found a photovoltaic research center to encourage cutting-edge studies, train personnel and serve as a forum for collaboration between academia and industry.
