New Energy Technologies Inc. says it has launched the second phase of its cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to advance the development of New Energy's SolarWindow technology.
Under the terms of the agreement, researchers will aim to improve the SolarWindow technology, as well as work toward optimizing the deposition of various coatings on flexible surfaces. These layers will allow for electricity to be generated on surfaces such as see-through and tinted plastics, New Energy says.
Scott Hammond, New Energy's principal scientist, and NREL scientists will make use of intellectual property brought into and developed under the CRADA in order to work toward specific product-development goals. Future development plans include efforts to do the following:
- Further improve SolarWindow efficiency and transparency;
- Optimize electrical power (current and voltage) output;
- Optimize the application of the active layer coatings that make it possible for SolarWindow to generate electricity on glass surfaces;
- Develop improved electricity-generating coatings by enhancing performance, processing, reliability and durability;
- Optimize SolarWindow performance on flexible substrates; and
- Develop high-speed and large area roll-to-roll and sheet-to-sheet coating methods required for commercial-scale building-integrated PV and windows.
