Roland Picquepaille has the details on a new type of solar cell, a "photocapacitor," which integrates the ability to store electricity once generated by the solar cell. All the usual caveats apply: it's still in the lab, it may not be cost-effective, your mileage may vary, etc., but it certainly does look interesting (especially its ability to be twice as efficient than a standard solar cell on cloudy days).

Integrated into the envelope of a building, such a surface may reasonably be used to generate power on horizontal surfaces. The key question is: to what use would the designer put that power?

Posted by: John Laumer on November 11, 2004 5:11 PM