Solar Paint Update

We told you that solar paint was on its way. Developed by a physicist at the University of Newcastle, solar paint was featured as an almost-ready idea on ABCs New Inventors last spring. The problem was, the "pain" was really only very thin solar cells which still had to be applied and attached to roofs in sheets. The University of Melbourne, the Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Research Organization, and researchers in Padua have been collaborating on a much thinner version using nanoparticles.

Again, not quite paint.

Mitsubishi recently announced that they have come up with spray on solar cells which they plan to use to coat cars so the cars can use solar energy. The process should make it possible to move ahead on the concept of solar paint.

In the meantime, paint home exteriors and especially roofs with light colors and "cool paint" to reduce cooling costs.