There are probably few people that would install and utilize solar panels if they could. The problem is that they are large, expensive, and complicated. Konarka, a alternative energy company from Massachusetts has developed solar cells that are both flexible and transparent. These cells can be placed in between the panels of windows or vehicles, and then they can passively generate energy from the sun all day long. The idea would be that these Arch Solar Glass windows could be installed with very little trouble and could efficiently and cheaply help people conserve energy and offset their utility bills.

Granted, these cells are far less efficient than standard solar cells; they have an efficiency rating of about 6%; currently, other commercial solar cells have an efficiency of nearly 20%. Still, the idea is fantastic. If people simply replace their windows with more energy efficient ones, it would definitely help, but if those energy efficient windows also produce their own electricity, that would be fantastic. The process of installing windows in a house is much less intimidating than the idea of installing a solar rig on top of a house.

If Konarka can get its Arch Solar Glass project to fly, then I think people will start to see just how easy and viable installing solar panels can be. With any luck, in the near future, homes might be dumping energy into the grid rather than sucking energy out of it.

Via CNet News