Windowpanes with solar cells transform direct sunlight into energy.
Solar cells are laminated between two layers of glass that serve as the exterior component of a double-layer pane. Crystalline solar cells, which consist of thin slices of silicon, are the most widespread type of solar cells; the active components are placed as a thin film on glass, metal foil or plastic. The newest type of solar cell panes are glass coated with a special colouring agent. The dyes and pigments contained in the glass coating absorb the sunlight whilst also re-emitting it at a higher wavelength. Windowpanes containing these kinds of solar cells can convert up to 20% of the light that falls on them to electricity.
