Rapid Innovation Development of Energy Generating Windows for Zero- and Negative-Carbon Emission Buildings

Next Energy Technologies

Recipient

Santa Barbara, CA

Recipient Location

21st

Senate District

37th

Assembly District

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$3,000,000

Amount Spent

closed

Completed

Project Status

Project Result

In 2023, work was done to fabricate, characterize, and test films and devices on 3.5” x 3.5” substrates and 14” by 20” substrates using benchtop R&D coaters to support large area coatings. Further improvements to coating trials were made to allow for completion of the demonstration wall. Work with glazing partners (subsequent to the fabricator) to make the framing system was successful based on the previous design of the demonstration wall structure and was completed on schedule or ahead of schedule.

In 2024, the project team completed all the remaining technical tasks and submitted the final project report. The project team constructed two demonstration walls, each with four 27” x 35” units meeting or exceeding all of the proposed specifications as well as one 40” x 60” standalone demonstration unit showing the commercial feasibility of the technology and toolsets built within the scope of this project.

View Final Report

The Issue

By 2030, all new commercial buildings in California must be designed to zero net energy standards. While substantial progress has been made in making buildings more energy efficient, there are very few solutions for commercial buildings to include onsite renewable energy generation. Additionally, large commercial buildings often do not have enough, or any, free rooftop space for conventional photovoltaic solar panels. This has resulted in the focus of using the building’s façade where there is often a considerable surface area. However, for widespread adoption of building integrated photovoltaic windows, the market demands exceptional aesthetics of a standard window and a good return on investment. Current technologies on the market do not meet the critical requirements of aesthetics, high transparency, good power conversion efficiency, long lifetimes, and low cost.

Project Innovation

In this project, the project team fabricated and demonstrated energy-generating windows using all manufacturing methods and processes necessary for pilot production. Techniques that allow for easier fit and less disruption when introducing this technology into the window manufacturing industry and market were demonstrated.

Project Goals

Building a coating tool for the fabrication of organic photovoltaic modules capable of handling commercial window glass
Using the coating tool to fabricate films with high aesthetic quality suitable for commercial window applications
Building and installing a demonstration wall using modules fabricated on the large-area coating line

Project Benefits

NEXT has developed a first-of-its-kind window that generate energy and also exhibit the thermal performance of energy-efficient low-emissivity (low-e) windows. This technology provides the dual benefit of increasing the opportunity for buildings to support on-site generation, while also improving the thermal insulation of buildings, potentially reducing the need for heating and cooling.

Lower Costs

Affordability

The increased insulation and electric generation will lower the operation costs of commercial buildings in California.

Key Project Members

Photo of Corey Hoven

Corey Hoven, Ph.D.

CTO/Co-Founder
Next Energy Technologies, Inc.
Photo of Jeff Horowitz

Jeff Horowitz

Director, Business Development & Partnerships
Next Energy Technologies, Inc.
Photo of Bruno Caputo

Bruno Caputo

Director, Large-Area Coating
Next Energy Technologies, Inc.
Project Member

Autumn Walker

Technician
Next Energy Technologies, Inc.
Project Member

Zoe Campbell

Technician
NEXT Energy Technologies, inc.
Project Member

Anthony Barnes

Automation Engineer
NEXT Energy Technologies, Inc.
Project Member

Allen Arakelian

Mechanical Engineer
NEXT Energy Technologies, Inc.

Subrecipients

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Viracon, Inc.

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Walters & Wolf Glass Company

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GlassFab Tempering Services Inc.

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Charles Lang

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Bars Precision Inc.

Match Partners

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Next Energy Technologies

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Viracon, Inc.

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Walters &amp

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Wolf Glass Company

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GlassFab Tempering Services Inc.

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Charles Lang

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Bars Precision Inc.

Contact the Team

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