Solar Power Without The Panels?

Despite a significant boom in the demand for solar power and the sophistication of photo-voltaic technology, many people still reluctant to outfit their homes with the hardware that’s needed to take advantage of this free and clean source of energy.

What’s keeping the average home or business owner from taking advantage of the lower utility bills that solar power has to offer? Well, among other things, many are turned off by the idea of plunking large, bulky, black panels on top of their home’s roof.

Thanks to a new technology being developed by scientists at Georgia Tech University, the equipment needed to use solar power might become much more subtle in the near future.

MSNBC recently reported that instead of using traditional solar panels, the Georgia Tech scientists are working to capture sunlight and turn it into electricity using fiber optics cables coated with zinc oxide, the same white compound lifeguards slather on their noses.

The fiber optic cables, each one two to three times the width of a human hair, could be installed on the roof of a house, car or any other structure with almost total invisibility.

One of the biggest hindrances to widespread use of solar power is that, while highly efficient, conventional solar cells are easily damaged, require intense heat to operate at optimum levels, and are very expensive to produce; a cost that is passed on to home and business owners who seek to use them.

Fiber optic photovoltaics, on the other hand, are relatively easy and inexpensive to produce. A solution of zinc oxide is heated to about 70 degrees Celsius (158 degrees Fahrenheit), about the same temperature as a cup of coffee. The cables are then dipped into the zinc oxide and allowed to dry.

Embed the fiber optics in the walls of a house, or the roof of a car, expose one end of the fiber to light and attach some wiring, and the electricity will start to flow.

Raymond Saluccio, CEO of New Jersey based EarthSure, recently announced his company’s plans to route light, be it from the sun or incandescent light bulbs, using fiber optic cables connected to underground solar panels.

Known as SubSolar, the plan could generate solar power 24 hours a day, seven days a week in hospitals or office buildings where the lights are always on (MSNBC).

Image by respres, used under Flickr Creative Commons License.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Tammy S.

10:32PM PST on Jan 28, 2012

I wouldn't buy property where some one could tell me what I can and can not put on my own roof - I am happy to be buying property with unrestricted deed The misconception that many do not use solar energy because of the bulkiness of the panels is a load of dung - Most people can not afford $25.000.00 of up front cost that it takes to install the system required to convert sun and wind to usable energy - CHEAPER ways to implement solar alternative is the key to renewable energy becoming more main stream.

send a green star

Ana P M.

11:37AM PST on Jan 25, 2012

It will be wonderful when we can all afford solar power....

Mac R.

4:28PM PDT on Aug 15, 2011

This should be front page news across the globe! This is amazing! Does anyone realize what even a fraction of the implications for power are from this breakthrough??? This is revolutionary technology and should be pounced on by every scientist and engineer alive.

The ease and cheapness of creating power this way is wonderful enough to celebrate, but the fact that it can generate power at night by merely using an incandescent bulb is a breakthrough of unprecedented proportions!

This truly has the potential to change the world!

Alan B.

4:43PM PDT on Jul 14, 2011

The ONLY ONES NOT in favor of this type of power are the mining companies. So they are going the way of the horse & buggy,get over it,gas power, candle power,were superseded by ELECTRICITY,thank god! So lets move on to pollution free.sustainable,non toxic,non contaminant,natural SUNPOWER!

Hope S.

7:10PM PDT on Jul 9, 2011

Interesting article. I hope this will work. Affordable alternate to current availabilites would be welcome by almost everyone.

Pollyn L.

7:09PM PDT on Jul 3, 2011

Sounds like a good alternative to solar power. Thank you.

Berny P.

8:17AM PDT on Jul 1, 2011

Affordable alternate energy!!

I AM ALL FOR IT!

Cesar V.

7:00PM PDT on Jun 30, 2011

can this technology be used in roof shingles???

Howard C.

7:36AM PDT on Jun 14, 2011

A really interesting article but there are a couple of misconceptions which I would like to address. Firstly PV aren't heavy, they actually hardly weigh anything. They are bulky but let's be honest what else were you thinking of using your roof for? Regarding cost, well it depends where you live. In you live in the UK, and have a suitable south facing roof you can get the panels fitted for nothing - 16 panels like I have would cost around £17,000 but due to a scheme available in the UK you get paid 42p per unit you produce, whether you use the electricity or not. Check it out on the Internet, also the BBC have information about it on their website. I don't know what applies elsewhere in the world, sorry.

Harsha V.

5:37AM PDT on Jun 14, 2011

Interesting . Hope enough research is done, the best can can come out