The solar costume, which would be used to power and store the sun, could be one of the first ever to be installed in the world, according to a new solar building materials research project.
The $30m project to create a solar costume from solar materials and engineering materials has been spearheaded by the University of Oregon and is led by the Solar Energy Systems Institute (SEI), a joint initiative between the University and the Department of Energy.
“Our research is helping to address the need for new materials for solar-powered buildings,” said Andrew Hulley, director of SEI.
“Solar costume technology can enable solar energy storage systems that can be made from materials that are inexpensive, readily available, and highly efficient.”
Solar energy storage system The solar energy systems being developed by SEI can be used in combination with conventional batteries and solar panels to store energy, with the added benefit of being lightweight and environmentally friendly.
The team has already created a prototype of a solar energy system that can store power from an LED, and a solar power controller that can control the amount of energy being stored.
“We’re excited to collaborate with our fellow researchers and the National Science Foundation to advance this technology,” said Steve Caughey, the director of the SEI’s Solar Energy Engineering Lab.
The SEI and its partner institutions will provide funding for the project through the Department’s National Science Fund.
The researchers behind the project are working to develop a commercial version of the technology, which could potentially be used by businesses, universities and government organisations.SEI’s project was supported by a grant from the US Department of Education, and the work will be carried out by the Oregon Solar Energy Center.