HomeLatest FeedsTechnology NewsInvisible solar cells are already being developed

Invisible solar cells are already being developed


The new technology would radically transform the possibilities of using solar energy.

THE Toyota as a sort of byproduct of an engineering project, its developers figured out how to develop solar cells that could “invisible”, they could be produced with the help of solar cells that completely blend into the environment renewable energy.

Thanks to the special solution, you can create a jacket that can be used to push your phone as a pedal while in use, or solar bricks that can slip unnoticed into the walls of these houses.

Special solar panels will blend in better with our environment (Photo: Toyota)
Special solar panels will blend in better with our environment (Photo: Toyota)

The Japanese government firmly voted for the with the use of renewable energy sources, Toyota’s developments also fit organically into these plans. The ultimate goal is to make the country’s operation carbon-neutral by 2050, and to this end, all possible means are used – for example, they made it mandatory to equip new buildings with solar panels.

The goals are ambitious, but there is one not-so-small catch. Even in order to achieve the intermediate goals set for 2030, the number of installed solar panels would have to be doubled, but the country is starting to run out of free areas suitable for this. However, sustainable energy efforts cannot be at the expense of the natural environment or the places of residence, so other solutions must be found, and urgently so.

At this point, Toyota’s project, which actually started as unofficial research, but in the meantime won the support of the company’s top management, meets the real and critical market demand. This ownership approach is not uncommon among Toyota employees: the world has become aware of numerous projects – from a basketball-playing robot to a relaxation chair that promotes effective rest – that were originally undertaken by the car manufacturer’s engineers in their spare time out of self-diligence.

The solar panels produced with the new technology can be colored or even have a pattern (Photo: Toyota)
The solar panels produced with the new technology can be colored or even have a pattern (Photo: Toyota)

Dr. Taizo Masuda today he leads Toyota’s carbon neutrality development division, but our story begins earlier – at a time when carbon neutrality, electricity or solar energy were not nearly as central to the automotive industry as they are today.

Nevertheless, the specialist’s imagination was excited by the issue of sustainable energy, and since he worked in Toyota’s paint technology department, he started working with the company’s permanent suppliers on a solution that reflects light at certain wavelengths – this makes the surface colorful – but does not absorb it in other ranges. but lets the waves through. Such a layer – be it paint or foil – would make it possible to place solar cells on arbitrary surfaces and cover them with a color matching the environment. Working closely with automotive paint specialist Nippon Paint and solar cell manufacturer F-WAVE, the group created a world-leading technology, but it had one small drawback: it wasn’t really relevant to the automotive industry.

A colored solar cell can be placed anywhere and can operate a device even during a power outage – this is an important buzzword in Japan, as there are often interruptions in the energy supply due to earthquakes and storms. Of course, it would be nice to place colored solar panels on the cars, but the cells would fit poorly on the complex surfaces of the bodywork. So we had the strange situation where we came up with something that was good for everyone but Toyota

Taizo explained.

In the beginning, because of this, they encountered particularly strong resistance within the company. They were accused of heresy, but the crew believed in the invention, so they continued to work. Finally, Akio Toyoda himself – who made strategic decisions as the company’s president at the time – embraced the project, thus giving the green light to the work.

The colored solar panels project is now taking place with central support and full steam ahead at Toyota, and market participants are queuing up for the opportunity to cooperate in the development of innovative products that can open brand new opportunities for their own customers. Sportswear manufacturers, the advertising industry and, of course, the construction industry saw fantasy in the technology as a matter of course, since they can create brand new products through colorful – and even patterned – solar cells, from air-conditioned clothing to long-lasting cooler bags to homes with self-sustaining energy supply. The technology creates particularly good opportunities for energizing historic buildings, churches, and sanctuaries, since the only acceptable solution is an inconspicuous solar cell that blends into the architectural features.

The technology is still in an advanced phase, a scientific theory, and many obstacles have to be overcome before serial production can be started – not the least of which is that costs must be significantly reduced. However, the opportunity is there, and moreover, the project has a not inconsiderable side benefit, that it can provide inspiration and strength for the realization of other similar projects.

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Mr.Mario
Mr.Mario
I am a tech enthusiast, cinema lover, and news follower. and i loved to be stay updated with the latest tech trends and developments. With a passion for cyber security, I continuously seeks new knowledge and enjoys learning new things.

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