A see-through solar energy panel
announced today by Sharp -- primarily designed for balcony railings and
skyscraper windows -- offers an uncommon alternative energy solution
and sense of privacy in a single package.
The semi-transparent black solar panel launches in Japan on October
1, and delivers a solar power conversion efficiency of about 6.8-percent
with a maximum output of 95 watts. While the low conversion rate seems
lackluster comparative to the 10- to 20-percent efficiency standard
these days, few see-through solar panel options exist commercially.
Overall panel size stands at 4.5-feet wide by 3.2-feet tall and sports a
super thin profile of only 0.37 inches.
A related press release notes that the module, which also acts as a heat
shield, mostly consists of laminated glass infused with photovoltaic
cells. Sharp did not announce plans for a U.S. debut of this nifty
panel, nor did the company reveal pricing.