RSi Unveils Power-Generating Transparent Photovoltaic-Glass Window

Posted on by
Print Friendly

solar window

Solar windows are nothing new, but Rainbow Solar’s (RSi) new transparent photovoltaic-glass window looks like a big step for building-integrated photovoltaics. The window, which generates 80 to 250 watts of electricity, comes with some swanky extras— a built-in electrical privacy curtain as well as a new technology to convert the window into a light panel.

According to a recent study performed by the NTUST (National Taiwan University of Science and Technology), the new window has proven energy savings greater than 50 percent. RSi’s window can be built up to 9×9 ft in size, and uses battery technology with a lifespan of 55 years.

RSi claims that their technology could one day eliminate the need for electrical power plants. While I think that may be a bit of an exaggeration, the company’s solar windows are an easy, practical way for buildings to generate their own electricity.

Photo Credit: NREL

Ariel Schwartz (374 Posts)

Ariel Schwartz was formerly the editor of CleanTechnica and is a contributor at Fast Company, Inhabitat, Triple Pundit, SF Weekly, and NBC Bay Area Online. A graduate of Vassar College, she has previously worked in publishing, organic farming, documentary film, and newspaper journalism. Her interests include permaculture, hiking, skiing, music, relocalization, and cob (the building material). She currently resides in San Francisco, CA.


  • Uncle B

    and we all know, some wild eyed Yankee Doodle is going to plug a toaster into a panel and cry bitterly that soalr doesn’t work when his toast turns out pale!

  • Uncle B

    and we all know, some wild eyed Yankee Doodle is going to plug a toaster into a panel and cry bitterly that soalr doesn’t work when his toast turns out pale!

  • Uncle B

    and we all know, some wild eyed Yankee Doodle is going to plug a toaster into a panel and cry bitterly that soalr doesn’t work when his toast turns out pale!

  • Tim

    An insightful article was done on this product in December Eco-Tips Magazine. The story was written after examining the panels and having several hours of discussions with the manufacturers, on two different occassions. This remarkable new product turns glass windows soloar energy collectors. from the designer’s prespective…more windows now becomes preferrable to less. This product offerts the possibility of taking the building “Off the Grid,” as it would be capable of generating it’s own power.

  • Tim

    An insightful article was done on this product in December Eco-Tips Magazine. The story was written after examining the panels and having several hours of discussions with the manufacturers, on two different occassions. This remarkable new product turns glass windows soloar energy collectors. from the designer’s prespective…more windows now becomes preferrable to less. This product offerts the possibility of taking the building “Off the Grid,” as it would be capable of generating it’s own power.

  • Tim

    An insightful article was done on this product in December Eco-Tips Magazine. The story was written after examining the panels and having several hours of discussions with the manufacturers, on two different occassions. This remarkable new product turns glass windows soloar energy collectors. from the designer’s prespective…more windows now becomes preferrable to less. This product offerts the possibility of taking the building “Off the Grid,” as it would be capable of generating it’s own power.

  • Carter

    I believe you’d need a subscription to access the full article, but Science magazine had an amazing story this summer about greening urban communities. This idea was mentioned, but one of the more unusual & innovative ideas was having the outer layer of skyscrapers/office buildings actually function as greenhouses, growing vegetables/fruits “in the skin” of the building. No power would be generated (outside of the calories of the food), but you would be getting cooling advantages in the summer.

  • Carter

    I believe you’d need a subscription to access the full article, but Science magazine had an amazing story this summer about greening urban communities. This idea was mentioned, but one of the more unusual & innovative ideas was having the outer layer of skyscrapers/office buildings actually function as greenhouses, growing vegetables/fruits “in the skin” of the building. No power would be generated (outside of the calories of the food), but you would be getting cooling advantages in the summer.

  • Carter

    I believe you’d need a subscription to access the full article, but Science magazine had an amazing story this summer about greening urban communities. This idea was mentioned, but one of the more unusual & innovative ideas was having the outer layer of skyscrapers/office buildings actually function as greenhouses, growing vegetables/fruits “in the skin” of the building. No power would be generated (outside of the calories of the food), but you would be getting cooling advantages in the summer.

  • Shane

    Brad, while you may be right, realize that it is

    1. a first generation product. An efficiency improvement of between 30 and 100% in the near term is not unreasonable.

    2. Glass is a common, and widely used architectural feature. It allows power generation from what was once a purely aesthetic surface, and since it is a low e glass anyway, the power generated can be used to further reduce energy costs associated with HVAC.

    3. The most efficient and logical way to move to a more sustainable energy module is with distributed generation. A decentralized grid with many small producers is a more secure and resilient grid, and allows regional generation by the most efficient means available. Solar in the South, wind in the midwest, hydro, low speed hydro, low temp geothermal elsewhere. Granted, if all those microsources are dirty, then you run into the car conundrum, but most of the emerging micro sources are attempting to be green, and most of those can reasonably get there once manufacturing processes are improved.

    In short, its one step of many. The more options we have to produce energy with minimal impact, the more independent we are, the more choices we have, and the easier and cheaper it becomes to choose to be responsible.

    The market will ultimately drive a green revolution – when it costs the same or nearly as the dirty way, we’ll choose the clean one. Right now our task is to create that market. To mature these technologies and learn to use them effectively.

  • Shane

    Brad, while you may be right, realize that it is

    1. a first generation product. An efficiency improvement of between 30 and 100% in the near term is not unreasonable.

    2. Glass is a common, and widely used architectural feature. It allows power generation from what was once a purely aesthetic surface, and since it is a low e glass anyway, the power generated can be used to further reduce energy costs associated with HVAC.

    3. The most efficient and logical way to move to a more sustainable energy module is with distributed generation. A decentralized grid with many small producers is a more secure and resilient grid, and allows regional generation by the most efficient means available. Solar in the South, wind in the midwest, hydro, low speed hydro, low temp geothermal elsewhere. Granted, if all those microsources are dirty, then you run into the car conundrum, but most of the emerging micro sources are attempting to be green, and most of those can reasonably get there once manufacturing processes are improved.

    In short, its one step of many. The more options we have to produce energy with minimal impact, the more independent we are, the more choices we have, and the easier and cheaper it becomes to choose to be responsible.

    The market will ultimately drive a green revolution – when it costs the same or nearly as the dirty way, we’ll choose the clean one. Right now our task is to create that market. To mature these technologies and learn to use them effectively.

  • Shane

    Brad, while you may be right, realize that it is

    1. a first generation product. An efficiency improvement of between 30 and 100% in the near term is not unreasonable.

    2. Glass is a common, and widely used architectural feature. It allows power generation from what was once a purely aesthetic surface, and since it is a low e glass anyway, the power generated can be used to further reduce energy costs associated with HVAC.

    3. The most efficient and logical way to move to a more sustainable energy module is with distributed generation. A decentralized grid with many small producers is a more secure and resilient grid, and allows regional generation by the most efficient means available. Solar in the South, wind in the midwest, hydro, low speed hydro, low temp geothermal elsewhere. Granted, if all those microsources are dirty, then you run into the car conundrum, but most of the emerging micro sources are attempting to be green, and most of those can reasonably get there once manufacturing processes are improved.

    In short, its one step of many. The more options we have to produce energy with minimal impact, the more independent we are, the more choices we have, and the easier and cheaper it becomes to choose to be responsible.

    The market will ultimately drive a green revolution – when it costs the same or nearly as the dirty way, we’ll choose the clean one. Right now our task is to create that market. To mature these technologies and learn to use them effectively.

  • Brad

    Assuming 250W for a 9×9, that’s around 3.1W/ft^2. So to power the computer I’m using, I’d need a window bigger than the room I’m sitting in.

  • Brad

    Assuming 250W for a 9×9, that’s around 3.1W/ft^2. So to power the computer I’m using, I’d need a window bigger than the room I’m sitting in.

  • Brad

    Assuming 250W for a 9×9, that’s around 3.1W/ft^2. So to power the computer I’m using, I’d need a window bigger than the room I’m sitting in.

  • Patrick

    80 to 250 watts of electricity per what? Square foot? square cubit? :-)

  • Patrick

    80 to 250 watts of electricity per what? Square foot? square cubit? :-)

  • Steve

    Looks pretty awesome.

  • Steve

    Looks pretty awesome.

  • Steve

    Looks pretty awesome.