Solar window blinds both block and harvest sunlight

Posted July 12, 2018

Ben Coxworth –

Each SolarGap slat is equipped with an array of solar panels — Each SolarGap slat is equipped with an array of solar panels.

Regular window blinds already help people to save electricity – by keeping incoming sunlight from heating a room up, they reduce the need to run an air conditioner. SolarGaps, however, take things a step further. Each slat is equipped with an array of monocrystalline solar panels, which generate electricity via the very sunlight that they’re blocking. Additionally, the blinds use a light sensor to track the sun, automatically changing the angle of the slats in order to best absorb its rays.

Invented by entrepreneur Yevgen Erik, SolarGaps are reportedly able to generate up to 100 watt-hours of energy for every square meter when mounted on the outside of a window, or up to 50 watt-hours when mounted inside.

The energy that they produce can be fed into the municipal grid and sold to the local utility company, stored in a battery for later use, or it can be used as it’s being generated, for purposes such as charging electronic devices.

Although the slats do automatically change their angle to track the sun, the SolarGaps blinds can... — Each SolarGap slat is equipped with an array of solar panels.

Regular window blinds already help people to save electricity – by keeping incoming sunlight from heating a room up, they reduce the need to run an air conditioner. SolarGaps, however, take things a step further. Each slat is equipped with an array of monocrystalline solar panels, which generate electricity via the very sunlight that they’re blocking. Additionally, the blinds use a light sensor to track the sun, automatically changing the angle of the slats in order to best absorb its rays.

Invented by entrepreneur Yevgen Erik, SolarGaps are reportedly able to generate up to 100 watt-hours of energy for every square meter when mounted on the outside of a window, or up to 50 watt-hours when mounted inside.

The energy that they produce can be fed into the municipal grid and sold to the local utility company, stored in a battery for later use, or it can be used as it’s being generated, for purposes such as charging electronic devices.

(For the balance of this article please see: https://newatlas.com/solargaps-solar-window-blinds/49488/)

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