Next Energy Technologies has received a grant from the California Energy Commission (CEC) to develop its organic solar coating for commercial windows.
CEC has awarded NEXT Energy Technologies $3 million. The Realizing Accelerated Manufacturing Production for Clean Energy Technologies (RAMP) grant is expected to help the company accelerate production of its photovoltaic coating, which can be applied to commercial windows and turn them into electricity-generating surfaces.
The purpose of RAMP is to provide financial assistance to clean energy entrepreneurs to successfully promote their innovative technologies by reaching the initial manufacturing readiness level. NEXT plans to use the funds to expand its low-cost initial production line for the assembly of solution-processed organic photovoltaics for commercial windows.
“Funding is vital for startups like ours that focus on manufacturing at the next level. Our goal is to help commercial buildings achieve net zero energy and reduce their carbon footprint, and we are working with innovative partners to show how this technology can grow in the future,” says Daniel Emmit, CEO of NEXT Energy Technologies.
The company’s solar coatings are applied during the window manufacturing process, integrating with established manufacturers without disrupting workflow and supply chains. NEXT said its approach eliminates the costs typically associated with packaging and installing solar power.
NEXT said a typical commercial high-rise office building with first-generation windows installed could cover up to 10 to 20 percent of the building’s electricity needs. According to the company, the building could generate 20 million kWh of clean energy over 30 years, saving an average of $170,000 a year on utility bills.
“RAMP is a truly visionary program,” said CEC President David Hochschild. “It provides value, not only to our clean energy goals, but ultimately to taxpayers as it helps lower the cost of these technologies.”
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A team of researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has found that highly glazed skyscrapers can reduce their energy use and carbon dioxide emissions by 40% with solar windows. Lance and Vincent Wheeler developed a new open source software available on GitHub called PVWindow model the possible effects of the technology.
“Imagine a skyline like in New York, with these tall buildings that are all glass,” said Lance Wheeler. “They’re all glass. The Freedom Tower has millions of square feet of glass. It could be a powerhouse in itself.”
