Energy efficiency has become an aspect to consider and value in homes in recent years, not only because of the environmental issue and the depletion of resources, but also because of the high cost to pay for the consumption of this energy. Therefore, sustainable options are on the rise and research is not only focused on continuing to develop existing systems, but these systems continue to evolve to achieve new more cost-effective and effective solutions.
This is exactly what a group of researchers from the Chinese universities of Tsinghua in Beijing and the University of Shenzhen seems to have achieved, as they have designed the new substitute for solar panels or at least the version adapted to large cities where not all houses have roofs or gardens to place these panels.
We say that this invention is ideal for large cities because it consists of a product that many people already have at home, and it is photovoltaic blinds that are capable of changing their position and inclination throughout the day to be as efficient as possible at all times, according to its developers managing to generate up to 226% more energy than conventional static panels.
This was a necessary solution to the energy efficiency problem faced by skyscrapers and large buildings in cities, and in 2020, the building and construction sectors represented 36% and 37% of the global energy demand and CO2 emissions related to energy.
As the researchers explained, these blinds offer “a viable approach that effectively regulates thermal load, natural light penetration, and energy generation”. While it is true that many skyscraper glass facades use photovoltaic glass, they do not take into account the movement of the sun throughout the day.
In the case of these blinds, by changing position and inclination according to the position of the sun, they improve their energy performance compared to other solutions on the market. Apart from their dynamic capabilities, the other main reason for their efficiency is their material and components, as on one hand it consists of an aluminum alloy that is able to withstand all kinds of weather conditions.
And also because each blade of the blind is composed of up to 26 monocrystalline silicon cells, which according to its manufacturer achieves an efficiency of 21.32%.
