Writer: Amy Lee

What is the first picture that pops up in your mind when your think of solar energy? Rows and rows of glassy photovoltaic panels above rooftops? It is not the only way that solar panels look. Thanks to the work of Sistine Solar, a start-up by a team of MIT graduates from the US, the novel technology SolarSkin gives a leg-up to the proliferation of solar energy by adding an extra value to the use of photovoltaic panels.  

SolarSkin is an aesthetic overlay placed on top of newly installed or existing solar panels with minimal interference of the panel’s efficacy. It can be imprinted with any image, a bit like the advertisement wraps on bus windows where the parts covered and the parts that let the light through are combined to form an image to the exterior while allowing enough light in so passengers could see the view outside. SolarSkin employs selective light filtration and uses only 2% of the light to display images while transmitting the remaining to the underlying solar cells. 

The company will tailor images and patterns of SolarSkin for customers. This means that homeowners can match the “skin” of their solar panels with their rooftop, grassy lawn, or choose any design in harmony with the environment.  Corporate designs such as business logos and advertisements can also be entertained. It literally transforms solar panels to a promising new medium for outdoor advertising.

According to the start-up, the graphic film is highly durable and is certified to withstand extreme sunshine, humid heat, intense cold and everything in-between. It supports 30 to 40 years of extreme outdoor usage and is fade-resistant. In a typical case, an installation of 20 SolarSkin graphic skins takes approximately 3 hours. Its cost is about 10% higher than conventional solar panel systems.

Feedbacks from consumers are positive. “There is a tremendous desire by homeowners to cut utility bills, and solar is finding reception with them — and homeowners care a lot about aesthetics.”, Senthil Balasubramanian, co-founder of the company said. He claimed that SolarSkin had 200 homes seeking installations since its launch. 

Source:
https://news.mit.edu/2017/startup-solar-panels-face-lift-custom-designs-0223
https://www.technologydesigner.com/2019/09/08/solar-skin/
https://www.sistinesolar.com/

Image Source
圖片來源︰
https://www.sistinesolar.com/