Chatten A.J., Farrell D.J., Bose R., Dixon A., Poelking C., Gödel K.C., Mazzer M., Barnham K.W.J.
Imperial College London, US
Keywords: integrated solar concentrators, luminescent solar concentrator
In developed countries 60% of the electricity consumed is attributable to commercial and public buildings. Even in the UK, the solar energy incident on buildings is more than 7x the electrical energy they consume. This represents a problem (the management of solar heat gain and glare) but also an opportunity that may be taken advantage of using complementary concentrator technologies. We are investigating conventional geometric and luminescent concentrators that may be combined to optimally harvest the direct and diffuse components of sunlight within a double glazed window unit. We have therefore developed a transparent luminescent solar concentrator (LSC), which can be added to the window glass to harvest the significant short wavelength fraction (< 450nm) of the diffuse sunlight to which the eye is insensitive. It is expected that the full integrated system would produce 2 to 3 times the electricity of current building integrated PV systems.
Journal: TechConnect Briefs
Volume: 3, Nanotechnology 2011: Bio Sensors, Instruments, Medical, Environment and Energy
Published: June 13, 2011
Pages: 669 - 670
Industry sector: Energy & Sustainability
Topic: Solar Technologies
ISBN: 978-1-4398-7138-6