Sep 17 2010
New Energy Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB: NENE) debuts its SolarWindow™ technology today during a demonstration at the University of South Florida (USF).
This first-of-its-kind, spray-on technology is capable of transforming everyday surfaces, such as windows, into energy-generating devices using both natural and artificial light sources, outperforming today’s commercial solar and thin-film technologies by as much as 10-fold under low-intensity irradiance.
“Today’s public demonstration is a pivotal milestone not only for the dedicated research team, but for our external stakeholders as well, including our investors who are keenly aware of how the development of the highly-anticipated SolarWindow™ technology has the potential to create a fundamental paradigm shift in the way we produce power worldwide,” said Mr. John A. Conklin, President and CEO of New Energy Technologies, Inc.
New Energy researchers have developed a working prototype of the Company’s SolarWindow™ technology in preparation for eventual full-scale production. Low production costs, improved manufacturability, and increased power performance are among important, recently announced objectives researchers are now targeting. Key to these advances is the development of new methods and technologies for applying New Energy’s electricity-generating coatings to glass surfaces.
Electrical power is generated on glass when New Energy’s SolarWindow™ coatings are sprayed onto surfaces using commercially available equipment. This patent-pending process enables researchers to spray SolarWindow™ coatings onto glass at room temperature, eliminating expensive and often cumbersome high-temperature or high-vacuum production methods typically used by current solar manufacturers.
Until now, most solar modules have remained opaque with the prospect of creating a see-thru glass window capable of generating electricity limited by the use of metals and various expensive processes which block visibility and prevent light from passing through glass window surfaces.
Researchers are also working to bolster the electrical power output of SolarWindow™, generated from both natural sunlight and artificial sources such as fluorescent lighting typically installed inside commercial offices and incandescent bulbs inside residential homes. Unlike conventional solar technologies, New Energy’s SolarWindow™ generates electricity from both natural and artificial light sources, outperforming today’s commercial solar and thin-film technologies by as much as 10-fold under low-intensity irradiance.
A small-scale prototype of SolarWindow™ will be demonstrated by USF researchers today at 2:30 p.m. at the Science Center (SCA) Board Room (411) & Research Laboratory (421). Visitors can obtain a parking permit at the Campus Information Center near the main entrance.
The demonstration will be led by Dr. Xiaomei Jiang, Inventor & Lead Researcher at the Department of Physics at the University of South Florida, whose work with small, organic solar cells helped her generate electricity on see-thru glass. Dr. Jiang will be joined at the demonstration by John A. Conklin, President and CEO of New Energy Technologies, Inc.; Valerie Landrio McDevitt, Assistant Vice President, Division of Patents and Licensing, University of South Florida, and U.S. Registered Patent Attorney; Jaideep Rajput, Patent Attorney and Senior Licensing Manager, Division of Patents and Licensing, University of South Florida; and Jason E. Lewis, Researcher & PhD Candidate, University of South Florida.