Could windows soon be capable of generating electricity?

Rendering of Panasonic’s perovskite ‘power-generating glass’ for buildings. — AFP Relaxnews

A new generation of photovoltaic panels could arrive in a few years’ time, revolutionising the building industry. These new-style solar panels would be large and transparent enough to act as windows. In other words, the panels would no longer need to be installed on roofs, as is the case today.

This technology is currently being tested in Japan by Panasonic. The first trial is taking place in Fujisawa, in a recently-built model home fitted with the firm’s “power-generating glass”. The test, which runs until the end of November 2024, is designed to verify the technology's long-term durability and conversion efficiency of around 20%.