Gizmos & Gadgets: Solar Cloth Turns Almost Any Roof into an Energy Generator

November 17, 2014 – Cambridge, England’s Solar Cloth Company has announced its first trials of its solar cloth, a lightweight photovoltaic fabric designed to stretch over roofs, carports, parking lots and any other structure that normally could be covered and that cannot handle the weight of silicon-based solar panels.

The company estimates in the United Kingdom alone there is an estimated 834 million square meters of non-load bearing roofs and 353 million square meters of parking lots that if covered could yield three times the total energy requirements of the country.

Selected as a finalist in Britain’s Cleantech Innovate competition for 2015, this is technology that could make almost any business or home energy independent. The fabric can be adapted to create energy-generating clothing which can then recharge personal electronic devices. Think of window blinds that act as solar power generators. Or sailing boats sporting solar cloth sails. No inboard diesel needed. Or a retractable cloth stadium roof that powers the lights. Or a solar cloth wrap for your car that powers your A/C, radio and navigation system.

The flexibility of the cloth provides almost unlimited application. And it can withstand winds up to 240 kilometers (150 miles) per hour and bear snow loads up to 30 centimeters (12 inches) while generating 60 watts per square meter. The company offers a 20 year guarantee.

Solar Cloth Company also offers options for carport installations like the one depicted below. These include electric vehicle (EV) recharge stations, LED lighting, security camera mounting plates, Wi-Fi and rainwater harvesting systems.

Cost for now is between 50 and 75% more than traditional cloth structures. But if a shipping company wanted to convert from gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles to EVs, the cost in fuel savings alone would more than make up the premium within a year.