Gadgets and gizmos

The fight to find a viable and meaningful use of renewable energy is far from over. Solar power is a fairly obvious use of our natural resources especially if global warming leads to hotter summers but solar panels can prove cumbersome and far from attractive. They are also quite costly unless you are one of the lucky ones to receive free solar panels from HomeSun and they are far from being the absolute solution that many experts seek.

However, nanotechnology experts at the University of Leicester could have made a major breakthrough that will one day see everyday items like windows, walls, and standard roof tiles creating energy where they stand. A nanite based solar panel film would be virtually invisible to the eye and could be fitted on anything that stood outdoors. Initially it would presumably cost a lot of money but as is often the way, the price would eventually come down as manufacturing processes were improved and made more cost effective.

The University of Leicester has joined forces with EnSol AS, a Norwegian company, in order to develop the idea of a solar film. The technology relies on a new type of solar cell that was first developed by EnSol AS chief Phil Denby and through the partnership it is hoped that it will be made more practical, more effective, and more cost effective.

You could basically end up wrapping your home in solar clingfilm, piercing a few holes, and then leaving it to cook in the microwave and producing enough electricity to power your home. Once electric cars become more commonplace it means that you’ll even be able to power your car so it would make you more cost effective too – or, at least, that’s the hope.

Have you got solar panels in your home?

Would you use solar cling film wrap to cover your home?